I feel utterly relieved about my decision to go part-time

[llareggub]

I've been back at work since September, working full-time. Initially the agreement was that I would work compressed hours, working full-time over 4 days, leaving me with a Wednesday at home with DS, who is 17 months.

The months between December and March have been particularly hard, and I have had to forgo my Wednesday to work additional hours because of workload.

This week I have been on leave and I had a surprise BFP. It was a surprise because I had fertility treatment with DS and never expected to conceive naturally. Sadly, it looks like it was a chemical pregnancy. However, it has made me re-assess my priorities and this week at home with DS has made me realise that I'm not managing work or home very well at the moment.

I've been quite emotional at work. Things there are quite stressful at the moment and I won't bore you with these. I've really enjoyed my time with DS this week and I've decided to put in a flexible working request to work 21 hours a week, with 2 days in the office and using the other hours flexibly to pick up issues in the time in between. It was a pattern that worked quite well when I first returned to work from maternity leave.

I feel so relieved about it. I was quite passionate about working full-time. I felt I had something to prove. Now I just feel like a weight has been lifted of my shoulders. I just hope they agree to my application.

Phew. A long one, but something I wanted to share.

I'm very jealous. Sounds like a good decision.

Fingers crossed they agree to it.

Sorry, not jealous about the disappointing not-pregnant bit, nor the horrible time at work, but think part time is lovely and wish I'd stuck at it.

aw good for you, sorry that pg might be chemical tho x

Peaches, I knew what you meant!

I really was passionate about full-time, and used to nod sagely when Xenia made comments about women working full-time. I feel so relieved, perhaps I never really wanted to do it!

Good for you. I work part time too and think when it works well it is the best of all worlds

I went back to work in January for two days a week. I am finding it very hard to start and finish anything in that time - it's not very satisfying. I don't want to spend more time away from my son - all a bit frustrating really. I also check mails throughout the week otherwise I would spend half of one of my days doing that so I feel like I am thinking about work often even when not there.

vickla, I can see how that might be the case and I certainly experienced similar when I last worked part-time. It is for that situation that I plan to use the flexi hours so that I can finish work off from home, or go to a meeting that can only be arranged on the days I don't work. I'll also check emails everyday.

It's a good plan llaregub but the flexible hours bit is the bit that makes me think they'll object. Will they expect you to quantify what you've done?

Peaches, good point but I think it is the flexible hours bit that might help them agree to it. You see, I plan to use those hours in a number of ways, depending on what is going on at work:

1. To do project work, papers, write up project plans, design stuff
2. Attend client meetings that can't/don't happen on my day off
3. Attend training days (compulsory) that happen on my day off
4. Come in for team meetings etc
5. Anything that isn't covered by the above and can't/won't happen on my working day

I wouldn't log all of the email checking, just the stuff that ends up taking a bit of time. So logging in on my day off and finding non urgent emails wouldn't be logged. I'd leave them for a working day. However if an urgent call came through or an email I would deal with it.

I work as an HR Consultant mainly on defined projects so the work is fairly contained and can be quite predictable in terms of deadlines/milestones. Things do go pearshaped in between and these are the sorts of things I'd pick up in between working days.

Besides, they are used to me working flexibly so all that changes is the number of hours I work.

Llare,it is great if it works for you but remember for lots of people p/t means working more or less f/t yet getting paid less.

I experimented with it for 3 months and found this to be the case.My workload remained the same and unless I caught up on days off and in the evening,the worry of it was crippling.

I'm going f/t again next month.

Moondog, actually this is what I found initially when I first went back to work from maternity leave on a reduced hours contract and then went full time after 3 months.

I just can't go on with full time. I'm going to do what Cat64 said and say no, which I didn't before. I've had enough!

Yes, ideally that is what we should all be able to do.

I couldn't and can't though. I am a salt for people with SN and i know how much shit they and their families go through anyway.

Well I hope they say yes to that. And incidentally I think full time people should do what Cat says. I don't see any excuse for a company asking people to do more than they're contracted to do. Not on a regular basis anyway.

Just out of interest though, how will you manage for childcare if you're doing the odd meeting here and there? personally I'd find that difficult.

moondog that is shit and i hope you have left a window open. but you must have some flexible working anyway, or do you only go away now on leave, are childern full time in school?

i went from 3 days to 4 after six months because it really wasn't good. we are we are in the red mainly becuase of childcare costs which could be sorted at a stroke if i go full time. but i'll hang out as long as possible and hopefully till ds starts pre-school in september (3 next month). and if we can survive on 4 days forever then i would be delighted.

My kids are f/t.
Saving grace is that I am taking all school holidays off (unpaid leave) to be with dh who works in Bangladesh.

There are some advantages to working in a profession where demand exceeds supply.

I'm very lucky with childcare. My PIL are retiring at the end of April and will be able to do more than 2 days a week, which they currently do for me. They are very supportive and have told me that they can be flexible. Also, my DH works odd shifts so is either at home in the morning or the afternoon.

Currently I don't work a Wednesday but have always been happy to come in/work on that day if there has been a need. I just need to work fewer hours for my own sanity.

i'm hoping to be promoted soon and this will make f/t even more loomsome (despite their promises) and have no childcare for whole of august. would you notice a nice little 3yo in your hand luggage md?

I wanna work part time.

Well..my pt hours haven't been agreed yet!

Fingers crossed...

Well, result! It is all agreed and I start in a month or so. I can't wait. There was some reluctance to agree to it but I convinced them with by saying I would be willing to cover for peak workloads and the like. It is up to me now to make it work.

I work part time, if the money thing is not an issue, it is best I think as you get home time and work time and can get things done but not work yourself to death.
I always reccommend it to friends as an option for returning to work although some firms are reluctant (or individual bosses).
I started back 3 days a week and felt I could cope with 4 then applied for another job (within the company) but did not tell them I was part time.
I was offered the job and when they found out I would only do 4 days they said "oh, but you were miles the best candidate so we'll take you 4 days" which was nice. 3 years on and I'm still with that boss!

Hurray!!! Just seen your post Llareggub (haven't been around much)

That's very good news. you must have done some really good negotiating. Well done.