Hellobee Boards

I'm really interested in responses to this. I will be in the same situation after LO gets here-- I'm 90% sure I won't go back but I'm leaving my options open. What I THINK I will do is ride out the paid portion of my leave (first 6-8 weeks of 12 weeks total) and after that, come in and let them know one way or the other-- most likely that I'm not coming back. They will already have mat coverage through 12 weeks at least, so that gives them time to find someone permanent. I also plan to tie everything up that I can before I go, since I know I'm prob not going back.
The difference for us is I don't love my job-- I like it enough, but I've been thinking of a career change anyway, so I don't think I'll go back to the same industry when I do go back to work eventually anyway. I really like my coworkers though and want to do right by them with telling them whether I'm coming back, but it's more important to me to have the options I need.

@KissMeCait: Oh yeah-- I've heard of that on here, but never in real life. I am going to ask my HR rep what happens if I change my mind about coming back just to make sure.

I'm in the same situation and I called my boss after 7 weeks and told her I wanted a part time and work from home schedule. I'm hoping, if it is approved, I will only go in the office one day a week and work 12 hours at home throughout the week so only a total of 20 hrs. She had no problem with it but the big bosses kind of are balking, so we'll see. I have to decide what I"m going to do if they say I can work 20 hours only in the office. I just am so stressed about finding good daycare, even part time.

@kml636: @travelingbrit: It depends on the company, but a lot of companies require proof of childcare of some sort to allow you to officially work from home. I don't think I'd be able to work from home without a babysitter or some kind of childcare, though I guess if they didn't care what 20 hours you were working and you didn't have calls, it wouldn't matter as much .

@Foodnerd81: I was thinking of this also, trying to get a nanny while I work at home. It's hard though! And if I was there I would just want to do it all myself.

I won't be a SAHM mum but I did have a conversation with work about going back part time. I knew I wanted to do part time before LO arrived but I never communicated it to work so I was nervous about them saying no, luckily it went really well and they were very understanding. My manager was very understanding and HR and the big boss had no issues either, so sometimes it goes much better than you think!