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When to ask work about going part time?

KellinaKellina
in 3rd Trimester

I'd like to only work 4 days instead of 5 once I go back after baby! Wondering if I should approach this before I go on maternity leave or while I'm home?

I'm hoping they'll let me do it! I think 32 hours is actually considered full time, and I'd be so much happier with an extra day with my guys!

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Re: When to ask work about going part time?

  • Tracy6450Tracy6450 member
    I would discuss the option before you go on maternity leave just so you office knows that you are considering going to 32 hours and they can plan accordingly.  In my company it's considered partial fulltime and the only thing that is different than regular fulltime is that vacation and sick days are a little less per year based on the hours you are working and those who work 32 hours a week don't get paid company holidays off - they have to either take the day without pay or use one of their vacation days. 
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  • kcisthebombdotcomkcisthebombdotcom member
    I would do a proposal before you go on leave.
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  • Jaimers375Jaimers375
    If you know that's what you want to do, bring it up now.  I went to an 80% schedule after having DS, 5 days a week, reduced hours per day. I will tell you that at least where I work, I'm still pretty much expected to do the same amount of work, just in less time, it sucks, but I wouldn't trade being able to see DS everyday at 4:30 as opposed to 6:30 for anything.
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  • laurel22laurel22 member
    BEFORE!!  I just asked yesterday to work from home one day per week when I return.  I'm glad I asked now, rather than waiting, or else they would've fully expected to have me back in the office 5 days a week, ready to go.
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  • locashlocash

    I've been having this same inner battle. I'm going to wait until my paid time is up during my leave (about 5 weeks) to discuss it. But, I'm more in the camp of not coming back if they won't let me adjust my schedule, so I don't want them to know that before I even go on leave.

    It's a fine line and it also depends on your comfort level with your company. I also have a lot of confidence that they'll work with my schedule.

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  • pixieprincsspixieprincss member

    I would talk now. Right now they still see every day what you do, how awesome you are at it, how needed you are, etc. Plus, if the answer is no then you might want to be mentally preparing now, not finding out and processing it with the stress of a new baby tacked on.

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  • valeivegasvaleivegas member
    If they already know about your pregnancy, I would talk to them about it asap.  I talked to my managers about going part-time when I initially told them about my pg, since I knew they would have to talk to some upper management, etc to get the ball rolling.  GL!
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  • JDoe11111JDoe11111 member

    WAITTTTTT!

     If you broach the subject before you go on leave, they could adjust your compensation over your leave to the 32 hours/week level (if you get any paid leave).

    For me, I'd love to come back a shorter work day (or not at all, if we win the lottery), but I can't say anything about it until after my maternity leave. I will take my leave as a "full time" employee, so that the 2 weeks paid I get is at full salary, then I'll use my 4 weeks of sick/vacation time to get a few more full paychecks, and then I'll have 6 weeks unpaid, but with still full contribution to my insurance & other benefits.  If I were less than full time when I started my leave (which they will probably do if you say you want to go part time after your leave...it's the standard for business practices) then I'd get paid less those 2 weeks of paid, I'd technically use less sick/vacation time hours but again those checks would be smaller too...and the contribution my employer makes to my health insurance would be lower.

    After leave I have to return to work at full hours for "an unspecified amount of time" before inquiring about a cutback (or quitting altogether) or I can be retroactively considered part time/quit from the date my leave STARTED, and held responsible for the additional compensation received in that time.

    It really depends on your situation, but think about it before you screw yourself!

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