Returning to work from parental leave....

[missie_mack]

When women make a request to return to work part time should the various powers ensure all options and alternatives to accomodate the request are made

Or

Should employers not have to be at the mercy of their employees demands and only exercise these options if they want to

:detective: :detective:

[amandaw]

I'm a big fence sitter with this one!! I think my view is that it needs to be the best possible outcome for as many parties as possible

I'm in the position where part time is a valid option (gov teaching job) even though my principal is not a big fan of it. That being said, she (apparently) desperately wanted me back in the school and so was willing to accommodate my request (for the time being at least)....she was also aware that my DH had taken a year off and sent me back to work in between babies, and so was aware that that wasn't really an option at this point in time

In saying that, this year has been my worst teaching year in 9...and it's not to do with the kids! I feel like my staffroom and students have been affected detrimentally by me being part time, because my other part timer has managed to avoid pulling her weight all year (and I say that from a factual pov, not a bigheaded one :p). I honestly feel like the kids been poorly affected and I have to work my bum off on days that I am there (as well as days that I'm not via email) in order to ensure that they are not being disadvantaged by my choice....do I want to do this again next year HELL NO, but do I want to be back full time next year - not a chance (and not even in the foreseeable future...I want the possibility of being able to participate in DD's and DS's school lives too).

What it does mean for me is that I will have to be totally flexible - I may have to work a .6 spread over 4 days (fine with that), I may have to lose priority over senior classes, I may have to do a huge number of supervisions (rather than being on my own class) purely so the school will work with the idea of me being an independent part timer and not having to deal with another person's ineptitude....but I'm willing!

Part time fits some employment fields better than others, and it also fits some employers better than others - I think if people want to 'demand' part time, then they have to deal with the 'demands' that best suit their employers and clientele as well

(hope some of that makes sense :laughing: been a long week already!)

[missie_mack]

Seems pretty poor to me that they don't have a tried and true options for high school teachers considering it is still a female dominated industry :( but evidently they also did not investigate all the available options so that this would not occur either.

Not really fair on you or the students at all :no:

[ThomasMum]

When women make a request to return to work part time should the various powers ensure all options and alternatives to accomodate the request are made


Luckily my most fantastic previous company did that for me. I took 12 month maternity leave then came back part time (2 days) then taking 12 a career break coz DH overseas a lot that year, came back 2 days/week, then I resigned recently bc DH got a job overseas and here I am now back to full time SAHM :)

[BigRedV]

I'm also a teacher, but was very fortunate to have a boss who had been through a very sticky situation with his wife's work. My boss was very supportive, family comes first is his motto. I told him what days I would be working and he had no problem with it. He is terrified of the union though and I did call them once about a separate issue and he crapped himself. I don't care though, I stand up for what I think is right and get union support whenever I need. Hail the union :thumbsup:

[Mrs Potts]

I think it depends on the business. Particularly the size of the business.

For a small business (like the place I worked which consisted of 2 full time staff and one contractor), it might not be physically possible to run the business with the employee only working part time. In that case I feel absolutely that the employer should be able to make the choice whether to be flexible or not.

However, in a large company or Government department it would be a lot easier to "cover" the hours the part time employee isn't working, or to make the position job-share.

Personally, I feel that people expect too much these days. While I understand that it is in the interest of the wider community to help mothers return to work etc, I feel that some people expect to be able to do whatever they want, and complain loudly if they don't get their way.

[aardvark]

If you're lumbered with the wrong job-share partner, then it'd be a horrid situation.

I work part time in a male dominated industry and it is very hard to be taken seriously from my experience.

[MumNeedsCoffee]

Hmmm I wonder if my thread re my work saying no to part-time has anything to do with this one.....

It depends on the situation

I'm complaining loudly at my work only because I had the ok to come back part-time when I returned from maternity leave but they have now changed their mind
Really they should have told me as soon as their policy changed, to give me time to look for another job, and not when I called back to make arrangements for my return

It is also a very large company

But if the business is able to show it is not a reasonable request, eg they are a small business
Then they are not and should not be at the mercy of employees demands

[missie_mack]

Unsuprising facts

Only 53% of women today are in the workforce

17.1% of working women do no return to work after having a baby

I am very greatful for working in a unionised workplace too Lozzaa where they ensure my employer looks at all possible options.