Struggling with a work decision (long)

Bazinga86

So, before I went on maternity leave, I asked my manager if she thought it would be ok for me to return at 32 hours instead of 40. She was fine with it but had to run it by her boss. She waited until the last minute and he said it was fine.

Since I returned to work at the end of August, things have been CRAZY busy. Our volume has just been way up and, thus, so has our work load. My department is split into 2 groups and my group has had to ask the other group for help in taking some of our work. This is by no means the fault of my schedule and my boss has told me this countless times. She tells me all the time that I am an invaluable employee and that I get my work done more quickly and efficiently than other employees.

 Well, her boss has decided that he is no longer ok with me working 32 hours and is blaming me for our work over-flow. He won't say a word to my face but my boss and I are friends so she tells me about his snide remarks. I asked my boss if she wanted me to go back to 40 hours and she said no. She told me not to feel guilted into it and only do it if I really want to.

So, I'm now thinking I may want to go back to 40 hours (four 10-hour days)... not because I feel guilty... more because I miss the money (my bi-weekly paycheck is $200 less than it used to be) and also to prove this asshat wrong. WWYD??

1026pumpkin

If you could use the money, go for it.  I don't think 4 10hr days is much worse than 4 8hr days- you're still pooped at the end!  Don't expect asshat to acknowledge being wrong, though.  He sounds like the type to just point fingers anyway.  

 

jeffsjayme

Do it.  Do it because you WANT to, not because your boss's boss is butthurt.  You want the money, you want the time.  Go for it.  For you.  Not him.

Nechie122

Is this temporary, like a seasonal increase? If so, maybe agree to go FT until the craziness dies down, sort of like a trial run. Once you go back to FT, you won't be able to return to 32 hours so make sure you're doing this for the right reasons and not out of spite.

Bazinga86

Nechie122:

Is this temporary, like a seasonal increase? If so, maybe agree to go FT until the craziness dies down, sort of like a trial run. Once you go back to FT, you won't be able to return to 32 hours so make sure you're doing this for the right reasons and not out of spite.

 No, this would be permanent. My boss has been very supportive but has made it clear that once I make this decision, there is no going back. So I better be damn sure. After discussing it with DH, I think it's the right decision for us. We could really use that $400/month.

Thanks ladies!