Reducing hours after returning to work, how to talk to boss?

MyPlus5

I think I have settled on wanting to reduce my work hours (from 40 hours to 32 hours/week) after our twins arrive.  I am currently home on bedrest until I deliver, and then I will be on maternity leave.  This means I won't actually SEE my boss until I return to work.  What is the best way to have this conversation with my boss?  Schedule a conference call?  Schedule an in-person meeting, when I am done with bedrest?  

Anyone successfully have this conversation and have any other advice for me? 

*sparky*

I agree w/the PP - how you approach this will depend a lot on your company culture, your boss, and the nature of your position. 

At my old job my boss was awesome and I was able to just call him on the phone while on ML and ask if I could flex my hours (still working FT).  He said yes on the spot and I knew he would because we had some other people with flexible hours and/or PT positions.

At this job, I worked FT for a while and realized FT really meant 60+ hours a week, but no one here works PT so I had to approach things very differently.  It took a much longer time to get my job to where it works for me and my company.  I had to put together a written proposal, it had to go through HR, I lost out on benefits, etc. because they are not offered to PT employees, and then I had to be proactive in following up because things here take forever.  But now (I think) everyone is happy.

MyPlus5

This is really great input, thank you!  This would be a very unusual request at my company, but I have a feeling they may go for it.  I know I am valued there, and they look forward to my return.  There is still a strong chance though that they would say no, because of my position and how unusual it is for this company.

You have given me some good things to think through and prepare before we talk.  I just jotted down some of your questions and comments, so I can prepare.  I definitely want to reduce my hours (not come up with a creative way to fit in the 40+).  If they say no, I would start using my network to find a part-time contract position somehow.  That may not be easy either, but it's an option to explore.  

*sparky*

MyPlus5:

This is really great input, thank you!  This would be a very unusual request at my company, but I have a feeling they may go for it.  I know I am valued there, and they look forward to my return.  There is still a strong chance though that they would say no, because of my position and how unusual it is for this company.

In that case, I would try to set up a formal phone meeting before your return and spell out in detail what hours you would work, how you would still handle your workload and/pr who would take over what you cannot handle, what your requested compensation will be, etc.  The more you think through in advance the better it will be received, IMO.  Since this is unusual, I would also propose that you do it on a trial basis and set up a date a couple of months out to sit down and discuss how it is working for both you and your employer.

Definitely make it seem that you are anxious to come back and that you really want this to work out.