Do I have to grant a full-time employee's request to return to work on a part-time basis after their maternity leave?

Employees have no legal right to demand to return to work on a part-time schedule, or to any schedule or job other than what they previously had. If you choose to allow the employee to come back to work with part-time hours, be aware you are creating a precedent for other employees to do the same.

Keep in mind: You may have an obligation to allow the employee to work in a part-time position or some other form of reasonable accommodation if they have an on-going disability that needs to be accommodated under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).