Returning part time

[Misty1]

Hi, just wondering if you tell your employer you want to return to work part time say 3 months after bubs is born do they have to accept???

Does anyone know? All i can find is that you are entitled to apply but i can't find anywhere if they have to accept or can make you come back full time.

tIA

[Olive]

i think they only have to offer you back the smae hours you left on, but you cna negoiate hours

[Karina]

You can request to work part time ... but i think its really up to the employer as to whether or not they will say yes. I looked into this when applying for my maternity leave and read some info on the industrial relations website and it said :

Refusing to allow part-time work may amount to discrimination
An employer's refusal to allow a woman to work part-time in connection with pregnancy or return from maternity leave may be found to be unlawful discrimination. The Anti-Discrimination (Carers' Responsibilities) Amendment Act 2000 (NSW) makes it unlawful to discriminate against an employee or job applicant on the ground of caring responsibilities.

(this is nsw rule, by the way... maybe u could look up what the legal requirement is in Qld.. its probably same or similar)

i am hoping to return to work part time too. I think they have to consider it fairly and not just say no straight up without even seeing if it will work or not.

[anney]

Technically they only have to offer you the same hours that you leave to go on maternity leave on. So you need to negotiate the different hours. I think it is much better to go to your boss and tell them want you want to do well before you go on maternity leave, then you know exactly what your options are now, and you can keep having discussions with them, rather than asking when it is time to come back. I think if you try to do it, once you are on mat. leave it is much easier for them to say no, as you are not there in their face.

[Misty1]

Thanks for all your imput. I thought i was being helpful coming back 3 days a week but they want me 5 days. I don't want to agree to 5 days at this stage as its probably going to be hard enough to come back 3 days, I always thought i'd be a SAHM but finances won't allow it
Might tell them i'll have to find other part time work and i'll be back after the full 12months....i think they'll have a heart attack..haha, they are already stressing about me not being here. If they won't come to the party then i guess they'll have bigger problems than only having me 3 days a week!