What have people planned to do regarding work after mat leave?

Can you do compressed hours? So full time over 4 days? X

Not changing hours as I work on a rota as I’m a manager in a public library. I’ll be doing 30 hours, 9.30-5.30 Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, 9.30-5.15 every other Saturday and Wednesdays switch weekly between 9.45-5.30 and 1.30-5.30. So I will have every Thursday with my girl but will miss out on every other Saturday

I went back after 6 months and working 2 days a week for now - hoping to go up to 3 days after a few months. My mum has my baby when I’m at work so I’m not having to pay for childcare

I work nights, I’ve cut down from 36hours to 24 hours. I’ve put my 2 year old in preschool for the two morning after night shifts and me and 8 month old will just muddle through together napping when we can. My eldest still has a 3 hour nap after preschool as it tires him out.

I’m going back full time, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm x

I’m back. Monday to Friday 9-5, it’s so hard , I miss her so much but keep Reminding myself I’m back at work to get money for our future. She does 1.5 days nursery, 2 days with family and i wfh Tuesdays so have her with me x

Going back 3 days a week mon-wed 8hrs a day. Just to earn enough to cover most things and help my partner with the bills all increasing. Due to return 3rd of April decided to go back early for money reasons.

Returning 4 days a week but using my holidays & stat days of 2022/23 to reduce my hours initially which will be about 28 weeks. Then I’ll officially reduce my hours to 30 hours after this. All being well between my family, his and my day off we’ll not need alternative childcare just yet. Still thought about sending her 2 days for social engagement but if I can even hold off for 6 months or so this would be helpful.

Returning on 1st June, will be doing 3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday & Thursday) then once my little guy starts nursery next feb I’ll be moving to 4 days (same as above +Friday). He’ll be going to nursery 2x days a week and will be with my mum the other 2 days! X

I've been able to return on 24 hours as a nurse, had the hourly wage increased to £23 an hour so like a full time wage x

Thank you for all your comments 🥰 x

Hey Christie, have you got a chunk of accrued leave (hols and bh’s) to use from while you’ve been on Mat leave? Unless you’re front loading it to extend your leave you should be able to use it to phase back in. I’m starting with 3 day weeks for two months and then upping to 4. It means you get paid for full time but only work part time for the first little bit. X

Hey, I do 🥰 I have about 13 days so was thinking of using them to do 3 day weeks for around 6 weeks then it’ll be back to 5 days. I have one working from home day too which should hopefully help 🙏🏻 I’m going to try him in nursery for the morning that I’m working from home and then have him at home in the afternoon with me. See how it goes?!..🤞🏻 x

Good luck! Xx

You too xx

@Leah how do you find it on the wfh day with her at home with you? Are you able to get work done? Does your work know? Trying to figure out how to use my wfh too X

@Christie absolutely fine, she’s a bit fussy some of the time, luckily it usually falls around lunch where I get an hour so we go for a big long walk. I get all my work done, don’t always finish at 5, sometimes I work over because she’s been fussy and taken me away from work for 10/15 mins so I basically just make the time up. Work do know, it was part of my flexibility they know it’s the save on childcare costs. I wfh 2 days a week Tuesday and Thursday, I only keep her home on Tuesdays and Thursday she goes to my moms at 10am and nursery at 1pm xx

@Leah that’s good! Not too bad then x