Please help

[chellemarie]

Okay. It's Thursday and I was doing fine all week. I get to see baby on my lunch hour and everybody seems happy.

I'm miserable. I can't even talk about it. I'll bawl at my desk. SO...

In the past, whenever I've had a problem or question I've just gone into my boss's office and discussed it with him. We have a good working relationship.

I want to ask to be part-time. I work 8:30-5:30 now. I usually take lunch 11:30-12:30 (it fluctuates for my life schedule but I have to be back at 12:30 for the other secretary to take her lunch.) I'd like to work 12:30-5:30. I'd still be here to do the things that are specific to my job and during the time of the month that is busiest for me, I'd be willing to work evenings and maybe a Saturday. (I'd be able to bring babe with me after hours.)

Everything I've read says to write up a proposal. Is that necessary if I have always just walked into his office and asked? I work for a rather small company - less than 50 employees in the building. My health insurance premiums are paid in full by my employer and I get 80 hours sick and 80 hours vacation every year. I've been here for two years.

Working the proposed hours would mean I could transport my dd to kindergarten next year myself. She wouldn't have to be in daycare unless there was no school and during the summer and babe would only be in daycare for about 3 or 4 hours.

I want to bring this up, but don't know how to approach it. If I do write a proposal, what do I say? Ack. I quiver just thinking about it.

If it were to be shot down, I'd stay here full-time. I do like working here (if I must work, and I must).

TIA, mamas.

[CollegeMama]

I think it's perfectly reasonable to go into his office to talk about it before writing a proposal. That way, if he's open to it, he can help you write a formal proposal that would go through the proper channels. He might appreciate getting a heads-up before it starts going into action. Also, it gives you that flexibility of being able to say, "I'll just keep things how they are then." if they don't want you to go pt.

[delighted.mama]

Chellemarie,

IMO, if you have a good relationship with your boss and you have always talked to him face to face, I think you should be able to go into his office and discuss it with him. Since it is a small office and it seems that you are very comfortable with him, you could probably get away with not writing a proposal. I was in a similar situation and decided to go the personal route, rather than a proposal, because a proposal would have been way out of the norm. Simply walking into your boss' office and asking if he has a few minutes to discuss something you have been thinking about is a lot less formal than a written proposal. Maybe, after you chat with him about the possibilities, you can offer to put it all down on paper so that he can think about it himself. He also might be more receptive when he talks to you in person because he can see for himself how much this job means to you and that you are trying to do the best for everyone. I always think that a personal appearance counts a lot more than a written one. Just my 2 cents!! Good luck with that!! I hope he agrees to your proposal!!

Libby

[normee]

I agree you should go talk to him in person. That is what I did when I asked to have my hours reduced because like you, that is how we had handled everything in the past. Then we put it in writing to go through the proper HR channels.

Good luck!! I hope he agrees to it!

Normee

[normee]

I agree you should go talk to him in person. That is what I did when I asked to have my hours reduced because like you, that is how we had handled everything in the past. Then we put it in writing to go through the proper HR channels.

Good luck!! I hope he agrees to it!

Normee

[Ione]

I agree with everyone... talk to your boss simply before worrying about writing up a proposal. Plus, if you focus first on how you're feeling and why you'd like to cut back your hours before getting into the nitty-gritty of how much part time and when (and for how long), you might get a good feel for what would be acceptable to him and could adjust your request accordingly. If you present him with a full blown plan, he might feel he needs to say no to that option only, rather than negotiate a solution that works for both him and you. If you know what I mean. I don't know... depends on what kind of person he is, though. I know that's the type of approach that works best with my boss--as long as I can answer her questions about the nitty-gritty I want once the general idea is out there and accepted (and you definately can do that).

(BTW, I've only been back half-days this week, 3/4 days next week... and I'm already seriously asking myself if I want to cut back my hours, too.)