AIBU to keep my Monday off rather than swap for a new parent?

She gets a mid week break + bank holiday and Good Friday. I bet she’ll appreciate it once she’s in

You get a bank holiday allowance if you work part time. It's much better to have Mondays off because you can use that allowance when you want. If you work Mondays you have to use it on the actual bank holidays and as this is pro rata it will reduce your annual leave entitlement. Disclaimer- This is how it should be done, I have come across a few companies who do not follow the rules.

I have a 10, 8 and 5 year old and do compressed hours to allow Mondays off, I used to do it to save on childcare before my children had funded hours/were at school. Like you say I feel like I need a day off after the weekend just to get stuff done, the weekend is taken up with taking children to activities and partys. I do the housework and other jobs I can't get done at the weekend. Not only this because I'm ft I get the Monday bank holidays back in TOIL and can used them whenever I like, so it can be an extra 6 days of leave to use. There's 0 chance I'd give up my setup that has worked for many years because someone else wanted it. Say no!

I have Wednesday off and really like it day to day, sometime it would be handy to have the longer weekend and in bank hol weekends it would be nice to have Fridays but Weds works well. Can get a midweek grocery shop and go to the market if I want as it’s market day.

This isn’t you hogging school hours when you no longer need it. You have a 4 day working week. She is also choosing to have a 4 day working week. However she needs to work around what is available to suit business needs. As a parent, I can’t see why Monday/Friday has more importance than Tuesday through Thursday.

YANBU, I'm afraid it's just tough shit for your colleague.

Calling your children 'grown up' is just ridiculous.

trying to guilt trip you...entitled mare...deep breath and say NO x

Why are you giving this a second's consideration? It's a pity she's not happy but that is not your problem to solve.

She's a cf.. A woman my mate works with came back from maternity leave with a list of demands. They shook their heads. 3 weeks later she announced she was pregnant again and would be going on maternity again soon anyway..
Likely back with more demands at a later date..

OPs employer should be adding a pro rata amount of leave as she’s still legally entitled to the time for bank holidays.

I loved having a Wednesday off. As others have said, never working more than 2 days is great.

Your children are hardly grown up! I’d argue you need the Monday more to start off their school week. Small babies are much more flexible this way.

I think she was really rude to say this. I want to go to 4 days but there are no spaces at my workplace for dropping a day so I can’t. I’m not blaming my colleagues who work 4 days a week though!

Wednesday is much better especially with young kids, she won’t have to work more than 2 days in a row. I used to have Wednesday off which has recently been swapped for a Friday and I much preferred Wednesday off.

People I know who have Wednesdays off love it! Also not your problem. Also 3 kids in primary school is far more of a juggle than one in nursery!

Not unless you want too. If you did would you get Weds off and the Mon every bank holiday though?

Weds off was my favourite pt pattern. You only need to survive 2 days/food prep. Weds good day for apts and errands.

That depends how leave is calculated.

When I worked 4 days p/w, I had bank holidays added to total holiday entitlement and then the total multiplied by 0.8. I then had to take bank holidays out of my leave. This is quite common, and 'fair' in that I had the right number of holidays pro rata - but it meant all 8 bank holidays were taken from leave, but I was only credited 6.4 days, leaving me fewer days of my choosing.

Indeed it is lovely but with older children I would caution you maybe doing 5 days work in 4 and your pension may not thank you

This much better for a 1yr old to have a day off on a Wednesday nurseries are manic on Wednesdays.

Is your workplace open over christmas ?
She sounds the type to demand all christmas off because she has a child. And wanting all the school holidays.

Your contract is none of her business. Do not change your non-working day for her. If she keeps harassing people about their non-working day and making snide comments I'd be thinking about having a word with your line manager or HR.

Mark my words, she is going to be one of THOSE parents who wants priority on every single Christmas, public and school holiday date from now on too.

I'd be checking what the policy is now to make sure it is fair to everyone.

Definitely keep your Mondays! I am also working 4 days, with “grown up children” who are 4 and 7 🤣 I have a Wednesday off as the whole team has to be present on Mondays. That seems very entitled of your colleague!!

Well you do, as you get it given to you as extra leave. It’s one of the benefits of having a Monday off.

I started with Tuesdays and Fridays and I felt the same. Then I went back Tuesdays and DH took Tuesdays off. It worked really well.
Now they are older I really appreciate a longer weekend actually. Not so much going away/packing for Cub camp when they are babies, you just want a rest!

My kids are 17 and 14. I barely see them. They definitely don’t need me. But I’m still only working 4 days. It’s lovely. Your colleague would think I am terribly selfish. 😃