Is a 4 day week really part time?

[Flumpwoman]

I'm due back to work in August and have requested going to 3 days with my manager. My role is a fairly senior one and she said that it couldn't be done in 3 days. She then went on to suggest a job share and even went as far as approaching a potential candidate to do the other half of the role. Unfortunately this person couldn't accept the role for personal reasons.
After jumping through several hoops and writing a long proposal, the company have now turned down the job share, citing that it won't suit the business. Instead they've offered me a four day week (with one of those days at home) I accept this does go some way to a part time role but it's a massive mental leap to take on all of the responsibilities of my old role in four days as well as to leave my baby with CM for four days instead of three. The old work/life balance swings firmly in favour of work. Plus I'm angry that the job share option got as far as it did before HR stepped in and deemed it unsuitable for the business.
I do want to continue my career which I enjoyed before falling pregnant and don't want to kick up a fuss but wonder if anyone has any other suggestions I can go back with to negotiate further.
Apologies for the long post I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I remember when I was young finding out that one of my friends had a mum who didn't work, and being totally gobsmacked - how rich did you have to be not to go out to work? (Obviously, at that age, I hadn't factored in childcare costs )

I don't know any mums who work full-time with under 5's. It must depend on where you live foureleven.

What do you mean where I live? I dont only know people who live in the same area as myself.. Do you only know people who live in your area? Maybe thats why you have such a strange view of what 'normal' is.

grendalsmum, me too! I remember I had a friend when I was about 11 who's mum didnt work. I was horrified and felt really sorry for her

I returned to work after my second child on 3 days a week for the first couple of yrs and moved to 4 days after she turned 3, although the 4th day is working from home.

3 days was not enough to do my job and was actually more stressful as the break from one week to another was too long and it took twice as long to get things done. 4 days is much better workwise and its easier to manage a workload to increase rather than jam a 5 day workload into 4 days (Am v. wary of this!)

I'd also say the number of couples I know where one is a full sah parent is very rare - if they don't both work full time the other works part time or they both do a 4 day week.

I was in a similar sitaution a couple of years ago as I was trying to work out flexible hours for HMRC and local council in my hairdressing job. ACAS stated that 30 hours or more a week is still classed as full time. So even though i had dropped ten hours i was still working full time. ACAS are very helpful when it comes to employment rights, holiday entitlement etc. An employer has to consider flexible working hours by law now. If they can demonstrate that you cannot do your job in more flexible hours then fair enough but they have to reasonably consider your proposal. ACAS number is 08457 474747 good luck x

I work four days (4 x 10 hour days = 40 hours) and when I do my accounts/tax return this is classed as full-time.