Becoming part time worker following maternity

[deedee83]

Hi all,

I'm due to return to work following maternity leave later this year. I plan to return part time, working 3 full days per week as opposed to 5 full days. On full time hours, I am contracted to work 37 hours per week with an hours paid dinner break. I work flexi time so this isn't taken literally, but rather that I am paid for 42 hours but have to actually be flexed on for 37. From what I understand, if I return part time, I will no longer get a paid dinner break. This would mean that although I would be working 3/5ths of the hours I was, I will get less than 3/5ths of the salary. My question is is this legal? Or am I being treated less favourably because I am working part time? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Eloise01]

Re: Becoming part time worker following maternity

Why would you not get a dinner break if you return part time? You would still be working a full day. Have you actually checked this is correct or asked why if it is correct?

[deedee83]

Re: Becoming part time worker following maternity

Along the lines of hours being averaged I think, unfortunately my manager is not particularly helpful and says we'll discuss it nearer the time. Otherwise she doesn't know and doesn't really want to look into it. I just wanted to confirm that this doesn't make any sense, at least then when it does come to discussing it I'll know a bit better where I stand. From speaking to others I work with who have gone back part time this has happened but they don't know why. Like I said before I have to total 37 working hours in a week but it is paid as 42, it seems that if working part time the actual hours that you work are what you are paid for, so if you did 3 days of 7 hours with an hours break, you'd get paid for 21 hours not 24. Not right?

[Eloise01]

Re: Becoming part time worker following maternity

I agree that I can't see the logic in this. But without an explanation it's kind of hard to be sure what is going on. Can you ask HR. I can't really say that it's not right if I don't know what the employer is saying about it. I can't see it's fair, but I can't be sure.