Flexible working and the cost of childcare

[Goscat]

I'm due to return to work from mat leave in 3 months time.

We live in Scotland, so no free childcare until 3.

I have an older child in nursery using the 30 funded hours (works out about 2.5 days/week).

I'm shocked to discover that I'm no better off working 5 days than 3 on my return due to having to pay the additional 2.5 days for my older child, paying more tax on the extra salary earned over X amount and student loan repayments. It's wild that this is an issue considering I'm a relatively high earner, but the cost of childcare in our area is insane (we just had a 20% hike a few months ago!).

I've put in a flexible working request to either drop to 3 days or 4 with an increased salary (pro rata). My boss initially said we'd make something work, but the latest is it's "causing more waves than expected". I just don't know what I'll do if they decline. I could not find the motivation to work and send my kids away from me for "nothing" two days a week.

It is frustrating if you look at it this way. Could a nanny be cheaper? It was for us around our older DC preschool hours when we had two DC.
It isn’t ‘nothing’ though. You are maintaining your career and hopefully still building this, paying into a pension and having contributions from your employer.

Will your older DC start school soon?

Thanks for your response.

Nanny for the two days a week may be worth looking into, I hadn't considered to be honest.

I have factored in contributing more to my pension to cover deficit for the year and a half (DC1 will go to school 2027).

It would probably feel better if I loved my job, but the reality is, I don't! I don't hate it, but not enough love there to feel good about this 🤣

I was going to say the same as @fiorentina

You won't be working for nothing.
You need to look at childcare as coming from both your salaries.
You need to think about pension contributions (which, from your reply, you seem to have considered, and, surprisingly - as this is about it not being worth your working - have the funds to cover)
You need to think about how stepping out of work affects your career.

Not in any way saying it isn't a difficult couple of years, but look at it as short term pain for long term gain.

(Hit post too soon)
Edited to add, the fact you aren't enjoying your job is probably clouding your judgement on this - but that is a separate issue.

Im not surprised to hear this

There are also several tax cliffs where getting a £1 pay rise can leave you several thousand pounds worse off

it’s a stupid system

@RecordBreakers as my husband is the higher earner, it's moot (we would lose money if he dropped days, we don't of I do).
Yes, I'm actually slightly better off working 3 days over 5, but have factored that extra going to pension!!

You're probably right, it does feel worse because of this but also because I hate having to send the kids to full time nursery

It’s sad isn’t it that you’re forced into this position. It’s perfectly natural to want to work part time so you can earn income and also spend time with your children who will likely also prefer that arrangement to being in a noisy nursery every day.

I really hope you have a favourable answer to your request - you spend an awful lot of years working and being part time is a perfect balance

You are not working for nothing, you are working to maintain your career. I have never heard a father say he is working for nothing, even when he is the lower earner. Have you factored in the cost of childcare pro-rata against your DH’s salary as he needs childcare to work too.