Hi cjsmum

Actually - sorry - but on this one your boss is right. Under the current rules if your return from mat leave they have to give you your old position or "an equivalent" position. There is a suggestion that where possible allowance for working part time should be considered but there is no obligation on the employer to do this.

Unless you work for a larger company where they have different rules written into your employment contract where alternatives have been negotiated.

If I were you I would sit down and work out what you want and then try and think of it from their perspective and then go back to them with a proposal for part time work in your current position or tell them why you think that a different position but a higher salary would be good for them as well as you. But unfortunately the fact that they did it for someone else previously doesn't cut it - for many companies times have changed and they simply can't afford to do things like that anymore.

Good luck.