FertilityZone

I'm on maternity leave at the mo and originally hoped to have a year off which would mean me going back in April. May decide to go back after 9 months not sure yet. Anyway I worked full time and work just assume that I'm having a year off but I've never broached working 3 days a week with them. I want to write to them and request this and a colleague has suggested I do it soon as we are merging with another compay from 1st Oct and its best to get any requests in soon.

I agree as if they say no at least I will know where I am but firstly I'm not sure how to word the letter and secondly how can I do it when I don't know exactly when I'm going back? Should I just do it as if I'm still having the full year?

Can anyone help me with how to word the letter please?

Thanks

Dear John,

As you are aware I am due to return from maternity leave on Friday 14th May 2010, this is made up by 9 months maternity leave ending on Thursday 14th January then 3 further months unpaid additional maternity leave ending on Thursday 15th April plus my annual 4 weeks holiday entitlement for April 2009 to April 2010.

I would be grateful if consideration could be given to reducing my working hours to 3 days a week. I am aware of the merge that will be taking place and I don't know if the office layout will be the same and whether it will affect myself and Elaine if we are off at the same time so bearing this in mind I was thinking if at all possible that I could work Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and have Mondays and Tuesdays off. This would be a permanent change of hours.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my request further and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours sincerely

Does this sound okay?

Is it okay for me to just put John as I know he's definately the person who will deal with it or do I have to be more formal? Also is it necessary to mention my colleague, ideally I would like Thursdays and Fridays off but another colleague has these days off so I don't think I would be able to.

Gem H - Yes I am giving them a lot of time because we are merging with another 2 firms and my colleague has told me to get in quick as some other people are wanting to change around hours I think (from the other firm).

Michelle- Yes I think I will put Mr, I did think John sounded quite pally but we (at the moment) are only an office of 10 people so I do know him well, I feel a bit daft putting Mr to be honest but it is more professional.

Not sure about mentioning colleague or not, if I put that I wanted Thursdays and Fridays off I know they will probably say no as at the moment myself and 2 other colleagues help out on the phones and we're not allowed to have the same time off usually. Hopefully if I offer a solution i.e having different days off than her they will be more likely to say yes!

Amyeliz87- I keep saying to DH that I hope they don't say no that they can't do without me being full time as they're managing without me now!

Hopefully it will work in my favour as when we merge (the takeover is supposed to be from 1st October but don't know when we will all be actually moving into 1 office) there will be more staff to cover!

I have requested to do 3 days when I go back to work in March but how do I work out what I'm likely to get now? It's probably easy to do I know!