Challenging Part-Time Work - Too Much To Ask?

[fionas]

I know I'm lucky - financially I don't REALLY have to work - we could just about manage on DP's salary BUT he's a shiftworker and I returned to work partly to give me a break. He often works weekends so often one day drifts into another.

Anyhow, slightly off topic. The thing is, I've worked for nearly 20 years. I earn a good salary in a big organisation but when I said I wanted to return part-time the only job they could find me was two levels below what I used to do and the sort of work I could do with my eyes closed. To give you an idea of how mind-numbing the work is for me, I turn up at 9.30, I sometimes have a two-hour lunch and am out of there at 4.30pm. I work five days a fortnight and a lot of the time I get as much done as the full-timers. That's not based on my opinion, it's based on our targets.

Yes, for some people, I'm sure that would be bliss especially as I'm paid at my old rate. But I hate it. I'm not someone who likes easy work. I want a challenge.

Plus I feel that I have sacrificed my career. It's going backwards. If I carry on doing this until DD goes to school I will not have anything worthwhile to put on my resume.

So I guess my question is, for those who've returned to work part-time, were you given challenging work to do or does your employers' attitude appear to be (as it appears to be for me) ... "we've given you part-time work, be grateful for what you've got."

[Epacris]

Fiona, I'm not going to be able to completely reply to your question because I have a unique and very flexible work situation. I'm a permanent TAFE teacher and I can return to work pretty much exactly when and how I want to, I just choose the classes I want to teach and make-up a program from there. But, I just want to say that I find my job very challenging, extremely challenging at times. I worry and stress about it a lot. But for me this is (mostly) a positive thing because I have to constantly push myself to try and do new things and communicate with other people. And then when I achieve something, it feels so good. If my job was like your job, I'd feel the same as you, really lost and totally demotivated. So, my point is, yeah, I can imagine how hard it is for you at work right now, even though it would seem like a dream job for others. You need a job that you find fulfilling, it's important, I know.

[MantaRay]

It's a tricky one hun. I was able to return to work 4 days a week doing the exact same job. But when I was only doing 2 days and then 3 days a week it was difficult to find a client (I am a consultant). I was lucky that my employer allowed me to do training and get extra certifications during that time, but really, even if I hadn't wanted to, the lack of part-time client opportunities would have forced me back to ft work anyway.

I feel for you hun. I would hate to not have enough to do also. And also, I think when you return to work from being a SAHM you really need the challenge. I hope something works out for you. Are there any other opportunities in your industry with other employers?

[organicem]

Hi Fiona
As far as I know (unless Vic is different to NSW) if you want to return to work after maternity leave I think that an employer is supposed to give you a job equivilant (or as close as possible) to what you held before.

[~Kaz~]

I was going to say similar to Organicem. It might depend on your industry and although I am yet to return to work, if they can't offer me my old position back, they have to offer me a similar kind of work using the same skills. So for example, if I was a manager before, they can't offer me a base grade position on the front desk - they would need to find something that was the equivalent of mangement (or at least using some of those skills). Can you check the policy of your organisation against the law?

ETA: I'm assuming you're returning to work after a period on maternity leave and not some other kind of extended leave. They can't discriminate against you in that case.