Going back to a more junior role in order to work part time

[Lizzy4]

Hello, I have a 7 month old son and am in discussion at the moment with my company re going back to work in June, when my little one will be 11 months. I want to work part time but unfortunately my previous role is not available part time so I am being offered a more junior role 4 days a week. The money is ok and the role is ok but I would be reporting into the person doing my previous role. I am finding it hard to get my head around. I think it's the right decision because I want extra time with my son and the responsibility of my previous role would also mean working silly hours and having a lot of responsibility (likely to be logging on every evening) Has anyone gone back to a junior role in order to work part time and how have you found it?

Hi Lizzy. Good luck with going back to work.

I am about to do something similar, but the the first time after a maternity leave I am going back to work two days a week.

The company has (very reasonably) shifted things around a bit but I know I will find it very odd seeing someone in my old role. I'm not going back for a month or so, but I just have to think that what I've got (3 lovely DCs and all the practical stuff that comes with them) is worth a bit of grin and bearing it at work.

Try to concentrate not on what you are losing (authority/autonomy at work) but what you are gaining. (A bonus day with your DC) Also your company is (or should be aware) that you may find it hard going back so maybe ask for some support?

Are you satisfied that your own job can't be done in 4 days? It's not much of a reduction really. Have you put in a flexible working request, and been given proper business reasons why it can't be done?

I sort of did - we relocated when I had DD so had to look for a new job anyway, but deliberately took a more junior one part time (and a 50% pay reduction ) so that I could be confident I could have a stress free life.

It worked for me; I turned up, did the work fairly easily and left on time. If DD was sick one day, I'd just try and work an extra day the following week, so I always felt I was putting DD first but not letting down work either.

I don't I'd have been comfortable going back to my previous company in a more junior role as I'm sure there'd be some sort of legacy issues in taking your place further down the pecking order.

As flowerybeanbag says, have you put in a formal request for flexible working?

Hello all, thanks for your very helpful comments. Good to see some people are in the same boat and NonnoMum's point about focusing on what is to be gained is very true! I have made a formal request yes, and they do have a valid business reason why my former role can't be done in 4 days.

I work in a Marketing Company and I am in Client Services. My previous role was Acount Director so I was running the account and the main contact for the client. In the last year, some Account Directors have come back from maternity leave and tried the job 4 days a week but the clients have not accepted it, so all these women are now doing 5 days a week, and I do understand this.

I was working very hard in my previous role, doing lots of travelling overseas (which I wouldn't want to do now) and often on my laptop every evening and talking to the client at all hours - which is what is expected of you in that role. My new role would be working as a Senior Account Manager with one person reporting into me. I previously managed 2 senior account managers and the rest of the team! But taking on the new role would mean I can leave my work behind me each day when I leave the office and concentrate on my DS and have one day a week with him, so it has huge benefits.

If I wanted to go back 5 days a week as an AD, there are many roles I could take, so I am essentially making a lifestyle choice. Just have to get round the fact that it's not a demotion and that my life is different now as I'm a mum and that's an important job in itself!

Well I think then you'd be doing the right thing - I have loved spending time with DD and doing things on weekdays which won't be possible when she starts school. I'm hoping that I can pick up my career in a couple of years time, but I know I'd never have been able to replace the time spent with DD. As you say, it's a lifestyle choice.

I did exactly that. Before I had DS I was a manager with a team of 5. However, I wanted to come back part time and knew that they woudn't accept a part time manager (people had been turned down previously), so I came back as one of the team I was managing.

My new boss is one of my old team. We're old friends though, have been working together for 5 years now. It was a little weird at first but I had a chat with my boss and told her that if I ever over-stepped my mark to let me know!

In general, it's been fine. I love having my day at home with DS and it's nice not to have the extra responsibility of being a manager. I really can just switch off at 5pm and concentrate on being a mum.

My pay, and career path, have taken a bit of a kicking, but it's been worth it. I need to find a new job actually, and really don't want to be full time again.

Good luck with everything!

Thanks BornToFolk, sounds like exactly what I will be doing. Your story reassures me it will be ok!

I did too. I love going in, doing my job (not having to worry about whether anyone else is doing theirs) and leaving on time. I don't think about my work once I leave the office. When I was FT it obsessed me, a bit. But I like having the time and (most importantly) head space to enjoy my children and life outside of work.

You have to judge success by your life and your family's life as a whole, how contented you are - don't measure yourself by your professional status or salary. A 'well-done' from your employer is nice, but so is being able to roll in late after Sports Days or know that you can drop everything and leave if you have to, with the flexibility to catch up later.

I have been trying to imagine myself doing your old role, logging on all the time, overseas travel etc. It sounds horrible with a baby, so I am sure you are doing the right thing.
I too took a demotion on return from work in order to go PT. It was a good decision. It is tough enough being a working mother without killing myself seeking long hours and prestige now. Try to take the long view- it's how many years till you retire? Lots and lots of time! And your little boy will be little for such a small amount of time....
The only thing I would add is that working 4 days a week is hard as everyone will assume you are working FT, so manage your workload and others' expectations really carefully right from the outset. Good luck.

And you are not only gaining the extra day with your DC, but your are gaining your evenings too (when you won't be logging on etc).

Give yourself a time-plan (say 2 years/5 years/10 years even) when you can crank up the old career again.

In the meantime, hope whoever is above you, isn't too much of a muppet... If they are, don't tell them, just smile sweetly and get on with whatever you have to without killing yourself. You'll still be juggling, it's just there'll be less balls in the air...

(BTW I don't practice what I preach - I've just about to apply for an extra day a week in a different place too!)

Thank you everyone, I accepted the role in writing today and feel good that I've made the decision now. Not going back until June so 3 more lovely months with DS!