Requesting to go back to work part time

[PRGirl_Cesca]

Hi ladies, I need some help - sorry this is long!

Previously to having Luca I worked in a hotel as events coordinator. I worked on average 40 hours a week Mon-Friday going up a bit in the summer when I'd pop in for a few hours every saturday for my weddings. The hotel is in my local town, and I'm part of the management team with 5 other managers so quite involved in the whole business.

The woman who was covering my maternity leave has got cancer :-( and is on major chemo treatment but it's had to be suspended because she has caught salmonella from the hospital! She was all 'I'm going to keep working through this', but she hasn't been at work since early Sept because she's been so poorly. The girls on reception are trying to do all her work and are struggling with a fair bit of the role and I went in on saturday for a drink and every member of staff asked me when I'd be back!

So I saw my boss today when I popped in to say hi to the girls and she asked about my keep in touch days (10 of which) and if I could maybe do a day a week for 10 weeks or something, or at least help a bit in December as Christmas is mental. I said that would be fine. I did approach the subject with her about how I wanted to chat with her anyway about my hours when I come back as I don't think I can afford full time childcare with work (I earn a low wage and worked out i'd make about £100 'profit' a month for going full time. Not worth it in my eyes) and she seemed quite positive about it and asked if I would write to her outlining what I would like and she'll look at it. She said sooner is better as they've got two receptionists leaving in the next few months on maternity leave (haha, they all got broody after I had a baby!) and she wants to sort out what she needs to cover and have a chat with our regional manager etc.

So I'm not sure what to write? All the stuff i've seen online is quite formal and literally a "i'd like you to consider blah blah, please get back to me at your earliest convenience" and that's it. I don't want to be like that with work as I'm not very formal with them, I see them all still pretty much every few days when I pop into town and I'm friends with everyone there. My mum is a HR legal specialist but she is quite formal in her ideas and seems to be better talking about what to do if they DON'T allow me to go back part time.

So basically can I include?

What hours I'd like to do?
How I feel this would impact the business?
How I feel this would impact our labour budget (which is up shit creek)?
How much I love my job etc?

Also, not sure if I should allude to the fact that I might be able to come back early if they agree to this? Or should I save that for later? I'd go back in December instead of February if they allow me the hours I'd like long term. But obviously I don't want to just let them think i'd come back early as i'd rather not!

Thanks in advance!

[Woodstock]

I would just write exactly what hours you would like to do on your return and request it be agreed.

If you think that there will be issue about it, then think about the problems it may cause and any ideas how it could be tackled. Showing consideration for your work and how it will impact others will help. They may even benefit from paying you less in this current climate.

I wouldnt mention about coming back earlier at this stage. Hopefully it will be agreed anyway. They seem keen to have you back.

Good luck.

[Fiz]

Sorry to hear about your maternity cover, hope she gets over the (hospital-acquired :rolleyes:) infection and back on her course of treatment ASAP.

You could - perhaps - include an idea of how the hours that you won't be working will be covered (if you are doing less hours than you used to, how will the 'missing' hours be covered iykwim?) Sounds as if the receptionists are doing this (all!) atm and even if they have to cover some hours, it will be less than they are doing now.

You could certainly mention that you are willing to come back earlier (verbally) when you hand the written request in, if you put it in writing then you are committing yourself so if you have any doubts just leave it out of the letter.

Good luck!

[PRGirl_Cesca]

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes Fiz I was thinking about including how my work can be covered...luckily because it's a hotel so open 24/7 even when I worked full time (and when I first started this was 60 hours a week!) I would still come in to messages left by reception and deals done in my absence so I'm hoping that will go in my favour.