Working 4 or 5 days

Hi ladies,

I don't know what to do.....

I have to return to work in January for financial reasons. I have a good job and am supposed to return fulltime. I have even been offered a promotion on returning as someone is leaving so it is a great opportunity.   

I always thought I would be ok at returning fulltime when DS will be 11 months, but now DS is here, I just love him to bits and would like to spend more time with him than just on the weekends.

My dilemma is that I only want to work 4 days so I have 3 days with DS. But with the job I do, I have to be there 5 days. I plan on talking to my employer to see if I can return 4 days but I may have to take a step back to do so which than doesn't make it financially viable.

For those of you that work 4 or 5 days, how do you find it? I am worried that I will turn down the promotion, work 4 days and then in 6 months or so will be happy to go back up to 5 days but I have a lower paying job in the meantime and have to work my way back up.

I also feel guilty and selfish for going back fulltime because I can get a promotion when really it shouldn't matter what job I do as long as I can cut my hours and have the extra day with my son.

Do I take the promotion which is great for money to pay our mortgage and the future (we desperately need a new car) or flag it and work 4 days. I'm torn between the too. I know it is not all about money but we are struggling only having one income. I'm so confused on what to do?!

I really need to start buying lotto tickets!

CuriousG wrote: By law they have to accomodate you now so definitely talk to them about working only 4 days. Are you able to work from home at all?

Hmm kind of ... however if you read the legislation, they have to talk to you .. and its quite easy for them to say no.

I returned to work when Issy was four months old. Luckily for us we are in the financial position that my DH quit his job and stays home with her.

To make it work for us ... we moved to Parnell and we now live a short walk away from where I work (less than 5 min stroll) - that way when I started back at work and felt like I had lost a limb I could see her and even if It was for a few mins it helped!

Now DH brings her in most days and she rolls around on the floor and best of all Mummy gets a big hug

I think you will find once you do go back to work fulltime you make more time so I tend to "do" more stuff with her than when I was at home. Oh and having work to do throughout the day keeps your mind off the missing part (not all days - but most).

*Sorry its such a novel*

Oh and pm mrsmojo when you are having a I dont want to be a working mum day ... (I do it often)

LOL Lilfatty!  I might have to start charging

 

Star wrote: I will definately talk to work. Unfortunately the job I'm in means I can't work from home but I just thought maybe I could work 4 days for a few months and then go fulltime. Ease my way in.

I did this.  I was meant to go back 5 days per week but I found it very hard to adjust and I had AL owing so I took wednesday's off for the first wee while.

When I started back at work, I took only 1/2 hour for lunch and left an hour early at the end of the day as well. So I was working 8.30-4, 5 times a week. Someone else to consider! Also, do the figures on the IRD (working for families) online calculators, sometimes the extra 8 hours accounts for very little.