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AIBU?

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Original poster

Not sure which part time offer is better

35 replies

arrowd · 10/07/2024 10:37

Morning everyone, looking for a little advice here.
My lovely DD has just turned 1, I’m a teacher in a senior school. As part of my return to work we agreed I would return home part time, 3 days a week or the equivalent. I have been given 2 set ups which are possible but I’m not sure which will be better and they want me to confirm by tomorrow evening. Obviously for timetabling reasons I won’t be able to change this once the school term has started or at least not with any ease.

Offer 1 - Work full days Monday, Wednesday and Friday, all day Tuesday and Thursday off.
Offer 2 - Work full day Monday and Friday, half day Tuesday and Thursday and all day Wednesday off.

We have 7 Lessons a day, half days would be staying until the end of the 4th Lesson (about 12.20) but leaving before lunch etc.

Now I’m unsure which to pick, DH thinks the second offer is better as he thinks shorter nursery days are better than long ones. I do agree that once DD is school age (though hopefully we will have another baby before then) the second offer would make more sense (breakfast club is cheaper than after school club and being available straight from school to do all the clubs etc. 3 days a week). But right now I’m thinking 2 full days off, no stress of getting up, dropping DD at nursery and getting to work might be nicer.

So AIBU to wonder what others would pick in this situation, the pay will be the same either way (equivalent of 3 full days).

OP posts:
Phineyj · 10/07/2024 10:54

Offer 1! Unless you want to work full time for part time pay.

Been there; done both.

Original poster
arrowd · 10/07/2024 10:52

Thank you everyone. We can definitely reassess at the end of every school year so no need to think too far ahead.
I’m certain (and made it clear) I don’t want Monday or Friday off, I don’t get the joy of a long weekend and DH works from home these days, I’ve found over the last year I’ve ended up feeling like I need to take DD out on those days so she can’t interrupt DH. Also we finish for holidays on Thursday’s quite often and Bank holiday Mondays so at least if I work Monday and Friday I get paid for those sneaky days off!!

OP posts:
tulipsunday · 10/07/2024 10:50

I would go for the two full days off - I was a teacher and did a similar half day finish some days and it was stressful - things would come up sometimes and it would be hard to leave on time.

Having two full days to do something with your little one will be nice

noblegiraffe · 10/07/2024 10:46

I'm assuming they will reassess each year so you could switch to 2 once DC is in school.

noblegiraffe · 10/07/2024 10:45

Having fewer mornings where you have to get up and out of the house with a baby early doors will be less stressful.

Would agree that option 2 is better once they're in school and you have to get up and out of the house anyway.

WiredForRobins · 10/07/2024 10:45

I actually agree with your Dh, you would still get all day Wednesday off too which will feel like a nice reprieve in the middle of the week.

Going forward you would be able to pick your DD up 3 days a week from school instead of 2. As you say breakfast club is cheaper than after school. My friend's nursery only did full days but it meant on half days she could decide when to pick her Ds up; being able to squeeze a couple of things in rather than a last minute rush which was usual on her long days.

Nursery is only for a few years and school years are much longer (she says to an actual teacher Grin ) so I would want that 3 days of collecting rather than 2 and I was a sahm with lots of parents who worked part time.

Ineffable23 · 10/07/2024 10:45

Offer 1 for sure, though I would probably prefer Thursday and Friday off instead if it were possible.

theeyeofdoe · 10/07/2024 10:43

Definitely 1. Childcare will be cheaper too.

Birch101 · 10/07/2024 10:43

I would go for the 3 full days so option 1, even solely based on the fact that groups and classes for under 5s tend to be more morning based so by having 2 full days off you'll have scope to do more things with LO over the 3-4yrs before school starts, I'd then look at altering hours

Nothanksnottoday · 10/07/2024 10:41

Offer 1!

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