Work Hours
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21259
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 10:11am
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Topic: Work Hours
Posted By: Danaj
Subject: Work Hours
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 11:42am
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Hiay,
I know there have been heaps of topics about working, BFing etc and i've found these incredibly helpful. Just wanted to hear a bit more specifically about what you all chose to do in regards to your work hours. I'm supposed to be going back to work full time at the 14 week mark. I'm an account manager on the road so can have some versatility in my hours but it's still pretty full on. I worry I have over commited myself and my priorities are starting to change the closer we get to the birth. DH may be deployed back over seas for 5 months in April and i'm supposed to go back to work in May. How did you working mums get on? Did you reduce your hours and what hours did you find suited bubs the best? Should I look at taking 6 months (money will be scary tight)? Or perhaps would say 4 days a week 6 hours per day be ok? Sorry for all the q's. I just feel like working long hours and doing the best for our little girl is going to be alot harder than I think. Especially if i'm on my own. I'm really feeling lost and I need to put my PPL in soon as work are asking for it. WHAT DO I DO????? ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 11:50am
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I think first of all sit down and do a budget...make it tight and see what diff scenarios would make you guys pull thru ok. So say back to work 25 hours and how tight you would be...then again do 30 hours and see what that does etc.....
As for staying home...well you still have 18 weeks to save and put some extra away and may be you can stay home for for a bit longer, even if not for 6 months. Having a baby is expensive and money is always tight.....I guess its just how you budget. Again if you are at work you pay Day care cost and if you stay home you dont. I went back after 15 weeks with DD as we had just bought the house and we were in a lower salary and money was horribly tight. Luckily my Aunt looked after DD, I gave her some money however to say thank you. This time around I will be home for 6 months and go back 40 hours...We cant afford it. Even tho we dont earn bad money!! Life sucks with costs going up every day...but what can you do??  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 12:18pm
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If you were to stay at home for the 6 months would that make you entitled to WFF, just something that might make a difference for you. They have calculators on the IRD website.
I had planned to return to work at 6 months but never ended up going back (well did some casual work but nothing to shout about). We actually found we could live on a lot less money than we thought we could pre baby so you might be surprised once you are off work how much (or how little) you can live on. If thinking part time then research child care costs etc and see if you can make something work. Doesn't hurt to find out what childcare is on offer and what hours they cover etc this early anyway as some areas have big queues for you to get in anyway. I personally think with a younger bubba I would have preferred to work say 3 full days and then have 4 fully off rather than working 5 part days. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: MonicaMouse
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 12:24pm
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I applied for the full year off, knowing that If I wanted to I could always go back early with 3 weeks written notice. I ummed and urred a lot in the lead up to my decision time re return as I ended up taking the full year. Some days I thought that's it I want to go back, dealing with Sh*tty customers is easier than this, but then you can't cheer them up with raspberries on there tummy.
I ended up handing in my notice about 3 weeks back. I agree with cuppatea, it's amazing how much less you can live on. ------------- 
Blair 15/10/2007 Daniel 30/07/2009 |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 2:13pm
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it possibly might be a better idea to put in for longer maternity as it would possibly be easier to go back earlier than expected as opposed to wanting more if you took less. it is hard cause until you hasve bub you wont know how you personally will cope or your body and healing etc....
hope that made sense - had small child on knee! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 2:25pm
| Another thing to consider is that 14 weeks isnt very long. I found the "cloud" was just lifting and I was getting the hang of this whole motherhood thing and finally relaxing and enjoying it. I would have hated going back to work then. by 6 months I was ready for a bit of part time work. |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 2:46pm
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Another thing to think about is if DH goes on deployment again, you will be getting a lot more money coming in (and seeing as that part is not taxed it doesn't affect WFF) so could therefore stay home longer. If he wasn't going away, then you wouldn't be coping on your own so it would be easier.
I would put in for longer ML though and that covers your basis. You won't know how you feel about being a SAHM or a working mum until you have baby in your arms. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 3:18pm
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When I put in my PPL stuff at work, I'm going to put in for the full 12 months and then say, but I expect to be back working here again by approx Oct '09. They will get a temp to cover me, open-ended. So I have to give 3 weeks' notice of my date I'm coming back and they can give the temp 3 weeks also.
I'm not sure about the other questions you have raised. We're saving as hard as we can so I can do the 6 month leave as well. -------------  |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 3:48pm
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With my first child, I was only going to take the 3 months or 12 weeks as it was then off and then straight back to work....
I was completely blown away by motherhood & ended up extending my leave til 5 months, as that was all I could get & then I worked 2 1/2 hrs a day. I still only do about 35 hours per week so that I can spend time with her as well. This time, stuff the money, I'm taking as much time as I can get, finishing much earlier too  , this is why we are shifting to Aus, DH gets SO much more $$ over there.
Might be worth having a meeting with WINZ & seeing what assistance you will be able to get. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 4:46pm
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Thanks for your feedback guys. I think you are all right and that 14 weeks just isn't long enough.
Problem being that I earn ALOT more than DH and have the main income so dropping my wage is very scary. I'll do the budget and see what comes of it. With me working, we don't come near the WFF cut off even with cutting a few hours. I always thought earning a decent wage was a good thing but it's making things WAY harder !!!! I appreciate your replies. Guess I just needed to be told what I was already starting to realise (that make sense?). ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
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Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 4:50pm
I just did the calcs on the WWF website. If I halve my hours, we are entitled to $3.00 per week.  ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
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Posted By: pip1
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 4:58pm
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if you earn that much more than DH have you thought of him cutting his hours??
I do realise this is not always possible but it is what we did and he does a 4day week (still full time hours tho) and i do 1 day and love it. Its like my little bit of brain time. |
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 5:26pm
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We thought about that and DH was quite keen. He was going to stay home for about 6 weeks while I went back to work after PPL. It was the only way really as he's doing his carpentry apprentiship so he is bound by that at the mo and cutting hours could be bad for his job.
Guess I really started thinking about this as the possibility of him being deployed came up. I think i'll go back at the start of term 2 (I work with schools) at reduced hours then look at full time in term3 gearing up for term 4 which is hectic. Is there a norm for reduced hours? E.g. 20, 30 hours or something like that? This is all new to me. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 7:45pm
Hmmm the deployment does make it a bit tricky, but otherwise if he's around, sounds like a good plan. My DH will be getting this bubba full-time from 6mos (but the 6mos we chose also has a lot to do with three other kiddies  )------------- |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 8:54pm
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I know what you mean about being the main income earner. Thats me too and I am starting to accept that for a few years we just arent going to earn what we could if I was working. I did some part time work when Tom was about 9 months and my 2 days per week brought in about the same as Dh's full week but I miss being with Tom so couldnt do it full time.
At the moment I am not working at all, other than doing some book keeping casually but I think I have stored up enough self employed hours over the last 6 months to just get the PPL and then after that I might see if I can get sat work so DH can have the kids.
You can survive on a lot less than you think........and then you wonder what you used to spend the money on
One thing to think about with WFF is that if you underestimate how much you might earn you could have to pay back the payments you have received.....ARSE!!!! so it might be an idea to apply but get it calculated at the end of the tax year. |
. Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 28 September 2008 at 11:51pm
Yeah sometimes it just comes down to realising you have to tighten those apron strings. We have about $5 left over each week and we really struggle, but in a few years time we'll be sweet and we wouldn't change Jack for anything. Plus being poor builds character 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 7:48am
| If it were me I'd write up a budget based on your DH's income and try it for a month, there's no harm trying since your income is still going to be coming in, and you can find out if it's going to work. But there will probably be some extra expenses while you are working as well. But if it works you could put away a good chunk of what you earn to take a longer period off after bubs arrives. While we didn't get WFF (for about 9 months) we supplemented DH's income with money we had saved and we are strict about our budget but instead of going back to work I'm still off and studying even. But going on a tight budget does require a bit of a mindset change. Lots of people say it won't work but it will if you ditch luxuries for a while. |
Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 9:40am
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Good luck with whatever you decide Danaj! Something else to look at is where bubs is going to be when you're at work. If you are feeling good about where bubs is while you are at work it will make it so much easier for you. Gabz goes to my SIL's place and has 2 cousies to play with there and I know she just loves it - same goes for daycare etc - if you are confident about baby being happy then you will be able to be happier at work.
These are such hard decisions to make and I spent alot of time stressing over it when I was pregnant with Gabz but amazingly things tend to fall into place and you will make do with what you have to :) Kebakat - we also did that when I was preg with Gabz - (lived off the amount of $$ we would be earning when I wasn't working) It was great cos we saved the extra $$ and paid off bills etc so it set us up to be better off financially when Gabz was born. |
Posted By: Natalie_G
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 10:37am
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I am having a year off, things will be really tight but you can always work around that and make things work to your advantage. Just like getting WFF I will be applying for that after maternity leave is over since DH will be working (hopefully for the police).
I am just trying to get everything I will need for bubs for a year now then thats one less thing to worry about next year and can budget a bit better. Good luck with your decision making, it is hard. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 11:48am
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I was the main bread winner so I went back to work, DH gave up his job and became Mummy.
And it is amazing what you can survive on if you have too! ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: VannesaD
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 11:59am
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I am the main earner also and I went back to work at 12 weeks after my first - and I agree with what everyone else has already said - it's not long enough.
Definitely do your budgets and apply for longer leave. You can always go back earlier if you need to financially - but I don't imagine you'll want to go back for any other reason. All the best. -------------  
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Katte
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 12:14pm
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Danaj - I was a territory manager and was on the road as well. I only took 12 weeks with DD and then DH took 12 also. I won't say it was easy and I did get good at expressing on the run! Only recently gave up this job due to complications with this pg but was never planning to go back to being on the road with two children. I just felt I missed out on too much and was driving so much and away from my family too much. I was also the main wage earner but we are getting by and DH has the ability to earn more as he is a musician. Looking back 6 months would have been so much better but at the time there wasn't that option due to finances and we still made it work. ------------- 
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Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 2:59pm
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This is going to sound stupid.....
I always thought WWF was only avail if you were a single parent or if both parents returned to work with WINZ setting the min hours required to qualify. If DH is full time, and i'm at home not working, does that mean we can apply for WWF when PPL ends? ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 3:03pm
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WFF is for any working family so long as one person is working over 30 hours a week (I think).
Then the amount you get depends on your annual income. I'm not sure how it works with PPL though as we will only be eligible once we have two kids so I haven't signed up for it yet. I assume that you just apply as soon as your PPL ends. -------------
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 3:31pm
| Yeah the requirement is 30+hrs for one parent. DH works 40+ so we get it. And apply for it as soon as bubs is here |
Posted By: Mum2L
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 4:13pm
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The hours requirement is only for the in-work payment component of WFF. The Family Support component of WFF is not dependant on how many hours a parent(s) work.
You can apply for WFF when the baby is born, and you do not need to wait for PPL to finish to apply for it. Just make sure you overestimate your annual income, as I came across families that would underestimate thinking they would only need to pay back a couple of hundred at the end of the financial year. Most of the time, it was a couple of thousand. Or go for the end of year option, which means you get paid the amount you are entitled to, and it is paid as a lump sum. I use to do tax returns for people, and many of them were for people who were getting WFF. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 7:43pm
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I've emailed my boss and told her I want to start in Term 2 doing 9am - 2:30pm Mon- Thurs then start full time in term 3. Still not ideal but alot better than it was. Also not quite as scary as full time. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
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Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 29 September 2008 at 9:28pm
| Those are my hours Danaj - they are great cos bubs will have 2 sleeps during that time as well so it's all awake and play time when you are with baby :) |
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 30 September 2008 at 5:01am
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i jumped online to look at WWF to see what we could get and they said nothing cos DH is over the threshold, even if i dont go back to work at all we only get $27 so i have no choice. i start work at 5am and im not coping so i have requested to cut my hours back now and keep these new hours after the PPL ends so hopefully that wont be too bad. ill only be working 10 but i look after my sisters 2 & 7 year old so im pretty sure it will still be a bit of a struggle, especially since i dont get leave from them, just the week i have the baby than i have them back ------------- 
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Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 30 September 2008 at 10:04am
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Funny that my boss hasn't emailed me back. I didn't think she would be impressed as I originally told her i'd be back full time in the 14 weeks. Oh well, priorities and all that Jazz. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
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