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Original poster

how long did you have off work?

17 replies

ohdearwhathappened · 07/12/2009 12:31

can I ask a few questions please, just trying to decide what to do.

Now that we can all have a year off how long did you take before returning to work? If you don't mind adding do you work full or part time, public sector or private and whether it's your first child or not that would be very helpful.

I'm trying to work out when to go back because my job is under threat!

OP posts:

notasausage · 07/12/2009 15:54

I took the full year off and have just returned to work 3 days/week having previously been full time. It never occurred to me to take less than the full year off but a friend did consider returning early (9 months). It was pointed out to her that if she went back then changed her mind she would not be able to go off again and finish her full year of maternity leave, so think very carefully before going back - once you're back, you're back.

I am public sector and this is my first child.

Why is your job under threat? They have to keep it available for the full year and allow you to return to an equivalent position in the same location.

CMOTdibbler · 07/12/2009 15:57

4.5 months. Private sector, full time.

Didn't have any maternity leave cover, only other person who really knew what was going on went on mat leave 7 weeks after me (my DS turned up early and her twins held on for longer than they thought they would, so this was actually best case scenario), so work was just piling up waiting for me

ClaraJo · 07/12/2009 15:59

I'm self-employed - I took 2 weeks off, to coincide with DP's paternity leave - because it's all I could afford. I didn't tell most of my clients I was pregnant because I didn't want it to affect the way they treated me and I certainly didn't want them going elsewhere. Some of them still don't realise I've had a baby! It was the right choice for me.

cat64 · 07/12/2009 16:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

llareggub · 07/12/2009 16:00

I'm public sector.

With DS1 I had 5 months off, and went back part-time initially then full-time when DS turned 1.

With DS2 I'd already gone part-time when I got pregnant. THis time I'm having a year off on maternity leave plus an additional month of annual leave so 13 months in total.

What do you mean by your job being under threat? Do you mean threat of redundancy?

NorkilyChallenged · 07/12/2009 16:01

I took a year with both dc. I used to work full-time, went back full-time between children and then now work 2.5 days a week.

Public sector

butadream · 07/12/2009 16:01

DS - 10 months (9m mat leave, 1 m accrued holiday), private sector, full time although I did return on 4 days a week for a couple of months.
DD - am off at the moment and haven't decided when to go back yet, it will be 6 months in March so I'll have to say then. I might actually take a year if DH's work goes well. I need to see after Christmas how fast we are burning through our savings! Also private sector, full time.

ruddynorah · 07/12/2009 16:03

10 months off with dd 3 years ago. a year off this time with ds.

25 hrs a week over 5 evenings. private sector (retail management).

dontrunwithscissors · 07/12/2009 16:04

With my first, I returned after 8 months (DD was 7.5 months), full time, public sector.

I'm currently on leave with #2 (due mid Jan) and plan to take the full year and then return full time, when the baby is 10 months. I'm not sure about that, though - a part of me would like to go back after 5 or 6 months (and I was itchig to go back at around that time with DD). It's flaming difficult trying to work full time when you're getting virtually no sleep, though.

WidowWadman · 07/12/2009 19:26

I was off for 9 months before returning full time. I work in the private sector and also trained for some professional qualifications in home study while on ML, just to keep myself sane.

MollieO · 07/12/2009 19:29

10 months. First child. Private sector.

Planned to take 6 months but ds wasn't well enough to be left at that age. Ds was prem so my maternity leave started the day after he was born.

Rosie55 · 08/12/2009 11:01

Have one child and took 12 months. Went back full time. Public sector.

Bramshott · 08/12/2009 11:06

I'm self employed. I took 4 months off with DD2.

cece · 08/12/2009 11:10

My first two I went back when they were 8 months. But this was before you could take a year off.

After DD I went back full time when she was 8 months.

DS1 I went back full time initially when he was 8 months. I quickly realised it was too much for me so went part time after about 4months being back at work. I went down to two days per week.

DS2 I am currently on maternity leave. I was doing two mornings a week prior to having him. I would like to take the whole year off. I am not sure what hours I will be doing; yet to be discussed with my boss. I quite like doing just mornings as it doesn't interfere with school pick ups and after school activities.

I am a teacher.

RockBird · 08/12/2009 11:22

I took 13.5 months off (12 months ML then 6 weeks annual leave). Went back three days a week. Am sort of public sector but not entirely.

indieangel · 08/12/2009 11:49

1st baby, 6 months mat leave and one month annual leave. 2nd baby 7 months mat leave. Public sector. Couldn't afford a year.

Original poster

ohdearwhathappened · 08/12/2009 16:52

Thanks all
looks like most people are taking more time than they did/I was originally.
I was on a temp contract part-time which they are changing to full-time if they can get the money.

They have employed someone to fill in for me then I can have the job back pending it being advertised

the jury is out as to whether if they advertise and I am on mat leave they can give the perm job to someone else or whether they have to give it to me. I would fulfil all the criteria.

However it will be a juggle for them to advertise since they don't want to end up employing me and my replacement and the new person!!

I'd be happy to go back part-time but full would be less than ideal since my baby has some health issues and as others have said if I go back (and then don't get the job) I've lost the leave, if I do get the job then I will have to work full-time.

There are plenty of others desperate for the job which is also on my mind as is the fact that if I dither/request an extension there are people who will potentially take advantage!!

I shall sleep on it a bit more.....

Thanks for the comments

OP posts:

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