Hi
I have just been reading a similiar thread and it has prompted me to ask for advice.
I am not due to go off on maternity leave until July of this year and am planning to take the year off. I am thinking I will put in a request to return on part-time hours (possibly 3 days a week).
It had never occured to me to put in the request prior to my leaving for maternity leave but I have learnt that others in my work place have done this and had it all signed off in advance of their return. I am wondering if this might be a particularly astute move at the moment because my department is currently being re-structured (to be operational this September).
The plan is to reorganise into smaller teams. I do not know who I will be reporting to in this new structure or if I will be required to diversify my role (because everyone is being asked if they would like to). The department are also in the process of drawing up an advertisement for a new Manager.
So, my question is, would it be sensible to try and see if I can get a new working hours arrangement signed off sooner rather than later (even if it means coming to a decision on this before I may have wanted to) given that I would then be able to have it looked over by my current line manager who is a fair and decent chap. The alternative is I wait until nearer the time (when I will have a better idea of the financial ramifications of a reduction in hours) but when I may have to submit my request to a line manager I may not have had any previous dealings with.
I am worried that because the role will inevitably be changing in someway (because I feel everyones role will be affected by the restructure) they may be able to turn down the request due to any number of reasons that can't at this stage be predicted. If I got in there first and they knew that I would be an 0.6 rather than a fte this could perhaps also make it easier for management to plan the composition of the new teams? Any thoughts? I certainly will not want to come back full-time.