Return from maternity leave

[elaine31xx]

Returning to work from maternity leave to a new job (old job wouldn't accept part time) and I'm torn between 22.5 hours over 3 days or 26.5 hours over 3.5days. My heart is torn! Financially we would be £400 better off a month and the half day I will be able to do from home once fully trained.

Anyone able to offer any insight into working 3 or 3.5days? LB will be in childcare 2 days regardless of choice.

Who will be looking after the baby on the other 1.5 days?

Dad and Grandparents

Should add once I WFH he will be with me on the half day

Do not plan on wfh and being responsible for a child for a moment longer than absolutely necessary.

It’s a recipe for poor performance and stress.

Will you get £400 after tax, insurance, pension ext is paid?

What does your contract or wfh policy say about children being in your care during working hours

Yes so after all costs

It isn’t feasible to look after a very young child and work from home at the same time. You will need to sort some childcare out, so make sure you consider the cost of that.

It was part of the job offer that I could WFH on the half day to help with childcare costs. I think the idea will be early log on and an hour in evening/nap time.

But they don’t always sleep or nap reliably.

That’s fine for catching stuff up. It’s not for the baseload.

No I know it will be a juggle but they have been totally understanding. I just can't decide whether it's worth it. But it is a lot of money!

Yeah, that's not a realistic plan.

Completely agree. When I went back I had about 3 random days DC was ill from nursery and I had to work from home with him around.

hell on earth.

WfH to help with childcare costs means shorter nursery hours (no commute), not looking after a child whilst you're bring paid to work.

So obviously my answer is 3 days, as 3.5 days isn't realistically possible.

If the 3 day option means you won’t need to WFH whilst your child is there I’d do that.
I did WFH with a toddler during/post covid for various periods and it was quite frankly a nightmare. I felt like I was working 7am-10pm just to get my 8 hours done as they’re so demanding. And I had on paper an ‘easy’ child.
I was lucky my job could be done at any time as I was doing the background stuff rather than working directly with clients but it was possibly the most exhausted I’ve ever been. I couldn’t do that on a permanent basis.

If Dad and grandparents can help on the extra half day then you could always start on it and cut down hours later if you are struggling?

However, as others have said wouldn’t try and do that and look after the baby as you’ll end up frazzled!

For £400 extra a month you could probably increase the child care and still be better off.

I would take the longer hours but make sure you are totally transparent with your employer about your child being in the house for that half day as many companies won’t allow it.

We would absolutely not be allowed to work at home with a child there. And to be honest you won’t want to. I can send a few emails etc but I couldn’t attend meetings or focus and it wouldn’t be fair on your child to do that anyway. Unless you’re thinking you’ll work before your partner goes to work?

so yes - agree that 3 days is the only option unless you sort childcare.