Going back to work after 15yrs as a SAHM, got any tips?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I’ve been trying since September to get something admin based but no joy. Out of desperation I’ve taken a job sorting and packing chicken at the local chicken factory. So it’s quite labour intensive with long days (9-5.30 but often with 2hrs overtime), currently feeling very anxious and not really sure what to expect. I start on Monday and from what I gather, it’s pretty much straight into it. You do some induction in the morning and spend the afternoon working in the factory.

We get all PPE, £15 a week for lunches and free hot drinks, so I don’t have to worry about taking a packed lunch. I’ll be uncontactable all day, apart from lunchtime as far as I know so I need to change the kids schools emergency contact to DH.

What else might I need to do or prepare myself for? Feeling very very out of my depth right now, I was 19 when I quit my last job, I was pregnant with my eldest and couldn’t afford to go back so I left.

Emergency tax code?

No it’s the standard 1257L. Mine should be 1131N according to DH, because after we got married we did a thing where I give him some of my tax allowance? I’m not really sure, I don’t really understand any of it properly 😅 but he reckons that if I don’t get my code changed then at the end of this tax year I’ll end up owing some extra tax.

I’m really impressed by your attitude. Good luck to you and well done! Hope it goes super well

You need to join a Union eg Unite. Is there a Unite presence there? You can still join yourself even if not.

They will give legal advice, access to support services eg free wiills, education and training and most importantly free advice if you have an accident or other problem at work. They may well advise you eg about your tax code (I think that you should probably have the tax relief yourself now you are working. )

I think Unite's membership starts at £4 a week.

No-one has mentioned a union but I had a Google and apparently there is a Unite presence there. Oddly enough the Google results named my factory specifically even though the company I work for has several factories!

You might want to change your tax code back so you get the benefit and not your husband. I understand why you did that when you weren’t working but now you need it back.

The tax code will be an HMRC job, its nothing to do with your company.

Ringing HMRC us a ball ache. They are open mon -fri 8-6.....

Might be worth getting an online account, and seeing if you can sort through there.

This! Well done 👏