To consider turning down job offer

[Wetbankhols]

Reason is - it's full time.

Full time is way way way too much for me - too many other demands pulling me every which way.

Have been offered four days a week but suspect even that is a bit much. Anyone else work four days a week? How do you find it? I'm suspicious I'll just end up doing full time hours on part time pay.

[FrogFairy]

Would they consider job share if there was another suitable candidate?

[Mari50]

Depends on the job to be fair. I work 4 days and I don't have to fit 5 into 4. When I go home for the day I don't have to take anything home or worry about it piling up.
A friend who is a gp went from 4 days to full time because she was fitting 5 days into 4 and figured she may as well get paid for it. So its role dependent.

[SoHereItIs2016]

I work .7 WTE over 3.5 days and I now have the same caseload I did 5 years ago when working FT.

This is frontline NHS though!!

I still struggle to fit everything in and feel stressed a lot of the time!!

[inlectorecumbit]

I work 4 days s week but find that l end updating work at home unpaid. Seriously considering asking for job share. I am the only one in my role at work so if l don't do it no one will do it

[inlectorecumbit]

NHS here too

[PuppyMonkey]

I worked four days before redundancy and it really was fitting five days' workload in. Horrid.

[Littleorangecat]

Yes it's very easy to end up doing FT work for a 4 day salary. I ended up doing FT hrs over 4 days for a 4 day wage. Left and now do FT for a FT wage. I suppose it depends how easy it is to get a PT role (hens teeth for me).

[Wetbankhols]

Unfortunately a job share won't be considered, which is a pain as there are people willing to do it.

I'm not sure what would be best. I get on well with my colleagues and I like the workplace, mostly, and it's a good distance commuting wise.

But I just feel a bit at four days.

[Marmitelover55]

I work 4 days and like it

[bettybyebye]

I work 4 days (although currently on mat leave with dc2). For me it works well, although I am very firm re my hours and make sure everyone I am working with at any time understands my hours so I can manage their expectations from the outset (do a lot of project work). Some flexibility and travel are part and parcel of my job but in general I start and finish on time, don't take work home with me and don't do anything on my day off.

I am fortunate that I work for a company that promotes flexible working and family friendly working. I found that despite working 4 days I had a v similar workload to my FT colleagues but that was simply because I work faster/more efficiently than them and was managing as much in 30 hours per week as they were in 37!

If you take it, be firm re your hours and do not be apologetic for working part time!

[Wetbankhols]

I need to have a think :)

Four days just doesn't seem enough time 'away' somehow.

[HeirOfNothingInParticular]

Would compressed hours be a possibility, and do full time over 4 days?

[Wetbankhols]

It's not unfortunately as I am a teacher. I still don't know what to do.

[BeALert]

If you're a teacher you'll probably end up doing far more than 5 days' work in your 4 days...

[Marmitelover55]

But you'll never be more than 6 weeks away from having at least a week off, maybe even 6

[Wetbankhols]

Yeah, but you spend it dreading going back! I've decided to leave. Better to leave on sunny happy terms with a good reference than messing up and ending up in trouble.

[Didiplanthis]

I was 4 long days (FT) then dropped to 3 days. My work load didnt really change and it was horrible - I got less pay, more stress, same work, less respect ( NHS ). If 4 days is in anyway doable I would go for it. Job share seems the best option but if it's not available that doesn't help !

[betsyderek]

Full time job offer is for a full time job. Apply for a part time job if that's what you want but don't take it and then go all weak and wimpy on them so everyone else has to mop up the work.

[Wetbankhols]

Someone didn't RTFT!

Weak and wimpy? Moi? As if!

[betsyderek]

I misunderstood. I thought you applied for a full time job hoping they would reduce the hours.

[Wetbankhols]

No. I was full time in a temporary post, they offered me permanent but with the proviso that it's full time or at a push four days, I have decided to graciously say thank you all the same but no :)

[betsyderek]

I apologise.

[Wetbankhols]

No worries! :)

[Lokisglowstickofdestiny]

For me it comes down to managing expectations. I have worked 4 days a week, 28 hours for a number of years. I have never had to take work home, I have on a couple of occasions worked longer hours on projects but was given time off in lieu for the extra hours. I've made it clear that I work part time, for part time pay. I think I'm more efficient as I'm better rested and can get through my work without worrying it will pile up on my day off.

[Wetbankhols]

The thing with four days is that it makes very little difference in terms of take home pay, childcare costs are through the roof and to all intents and purposes you're full time. And those pesky things like parents evenings always seem to fall on your day off