I have been asked to come back to my old job temporarily

[misskitty100]

Has anyone ever returned to a job they used to do on a temporary basis? I left my job 4 yrs ago when DS was born. The person that we hired and I trained to take over for me is moving to a different position within the company and my old boss has a vacation schedule outside of the country for 2 weeks. DH works at the same company and chatted today with my former boss - she mentioned she sure would love for me to come back for good but if that wasn't in the cards wondered if I would be interested in coming back for 4-6 weeks on a part time basis (I could set my own hours too). I assume she would like me to stay until she hires someone else.

[Canice]

Yes, I've gone back twice to previously "permanent" jobs on a contract basis. I loved it.

As an independent contractor I've gone back a number of times to the same companies, in similar positions, but that's not quite the same as going back to a place where you've invested years of effort.

[rjbq]

I am currently working as a contractor at the company I retired from two years ago. This is the fourth time I've returned. The reason for this return was to gather extra funds for a trip to Scotland next spring for our daughter's graduation from Glasgow University. Each of my returns have allowed me to finance extras not available on my retirement income. I would not come back just for the fun of working again.

[misskitty100]

I am currently working as a contractor at the company I retired from two years ago. This is the fourth time I've returned. The reason for this return was to gather extra funds for a trip to Scotland next spring for our daughter's graduation from Glasgow University. Each of my returns have allowed me to finance extras not available on my retirement income. I would not come back just for the fun of working again.

I TOTALLY relate to this! My first thought was where we could travel to with my earnings from a few weeks working!

[wintersummer]

I'm also in the group that "goes back to work" for my previous employer. I left 10 years ago, not because I didn't love the job, but because I wanted more time to do all the things I love (including cooking). My husband was very supportive and actually enjoys life more when I'm at home taking care of all the home related things.

I was gone exactly one week when they asked me to come back and work on a short term project (2 weeks). Since then, I've returned about 8 times, doing all sorts of work. In most cases, my former organization calls me only when there is a "crisis" of some sort, specifically a deadline OR a regulatory matter OR in the last two cases, where employees have been terminated and they need someone to fill the void while they search for a new person. It has worked to my advantage because they are much more generous with compensation when they are so needy. They let me set my hours, of course, within reason. I keep an active email account and phone number at my old employer, just because it's easier than setting up a new one each time.

Bottomline - I love going back on these projects, because I stay out of the politics and day-to-day frustrations, just focus on the work I've been hired to do, and try to enjoy it. It's easy to enjoy when you know that it's time limited.