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Original poster

How do you find working 4 days? When is the best time to mention it?

29 replies

Newjobtime · 19/09/2018 20:38

I've applied for a new job doing the same as what I do now but closer to home. Currently work 5 days but have been thinking about how nice it would be to have a day off with the baby and to do the school run once a week. Those of you who work 4 days do you like it? Does 4 days work well?

Also if I was hoping to do 4 days would it be best to ask at the interview if 4 days is possible or work full time for 6 months then put flexible working request in. I'm not sure if it will come across badly asking at interview?
I know the department and lots of people there are part time and the job can be done in 4 days really.

OP posts:

PickleSarnie · 19/09/2018 20:41

I like 4 days. I do Monday to Thursday. So I only miss Friday which is probably most people's least productive day anyway.

I found three days really tough. Spend half of my first day just catching up on the last two days I'd missed. I was trying to fit 5 days work into 3 which was impossible.

AnotherEmma · 19/09/2018 20:43

I work 3 days a week but I think 4 days would be ideal.

FWIW I don’t think you should ask at interview (not unless they ask you directly if you want full time or part time, in which case you could say that you would be happy with either full time or 4 days) but I think you should ask if you are offered the job. It can be part of the discussion/negotiation about benefits and terms. If they say no you can still take the job full time and then make a flexible working request after you’ve passed the probation period.

Faster · 19/09/2018 20:45

I work compressed hours, I do 4 x 10hr shifts and have Tuesdays, Saturday and Sundays off each week. I really like having the extra day off in the week n

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jq28 · 19/09/2018 20:52

I do 37 hours over 4 days and I love it. I get Friday Saturday Sunday off every week.
I actually think it's good for the soul to work less. You get time to do housework etc without it eating into your weekend.
I wouldn't ask at interview though personally.

MrsPworkingmummy · 19/09/2018 20:55

I'm a teacher and have just went back to work following maternity leave. I've went back 4 days a week, Monday to Thursday and having the Friday off has made a massive difference to me. I love the fact I can take my elder daughter to school and collect her, and have a special day of activities with the baby. I love it.

ElphabaTheGreen · 19/09/2018 21:01

I've recently dropped my working hours from 37.5 full time hours to 30 hours over five days (so same as four full days) so I can do the school run every day. Best decision I've made in a long time. Quality time with my DCs, they can do whatever after school activities they like as I can get them there and I don't have that pulling dread of having to see out a full day of work anymore.

And, I'm sorry, I know I should keep this to Pedant's Corner, but...

I'm a teacher and have just went back to work following maternity leave. I've went back 4 days a week

Please, for the love of God, tell me you don't teach primary school or English if you have 'just went back to work'...

Loopytiles · 19/09/2018 21:04

Don’t ask at interview.

BirdieInTheHand · 19/09/2018 21:07

Depends on your job, the more senior you are the tougher it is.

I've worked four days in two jobs and it was an absolute fools game! I pretty much ended up doing FT work for 20% less pay.

Maxstress3 · 19/09/2018 21:08

I work 4 days a week Tuesday to Friday and love it as I work around school time so can drop and pick up little one. Also it gives me a chance to catch up with friends and relax at the gym. Bliss

starfish8 · 19/09/2018 21:09

4 days per week is ace. I have Fridays off, agree above that it’s tge least productive day and don’t miss any key meetings. My son has just started school so I now have time to myself and can do the school run at both ends of the day.

Please do not mention 4 days at interview, unless you are specifically asked. Even then, I personally think it could put you at a disadvantage if they are then choosing between you and a full time candidate.

Wait until offer then ask for 4 days. If that’s not possible, accept at 5 days and ask for flexible working at 6 months (usual policy).

HariboHippo · 19/09/2018 21:11

I work 4 days - went back from Mat leave and dropped from 37 to 28. I don’t work Tuesdays and have absolutely loved it - my DS has always known that’s Mommy Day and we have always done something fun on that day. He’s just started school and I’m feeling a little bereft on Tuesdays now! It’s a random day to have off but it removes the Monday dread for me, as I know I only have to do one day before I’m off again, and then I get 3 solid days to catch up on work before the weekend.

Sandsnake · 19/09/2018 21:13

I work four consecutive days with a three day weekend and think it’s great.
Feels like a proper working week, but with a lovely long weekend and a day with just DS where I also catch-up on housework, cooking etc. Before DS I didn’t consider working anything other than full time - I now think I’d really struggle to go back!

MrsPworkingmummy · 19/09/2018 21:43

@ElphabaTheGreen Haha! I'm not kidding when I say I'm Head of English. Baby brain!!!!

SleepingBooty · 19/09/2018 21:49

I do 4 days from working 3, I found that extra day tough but I'm used to it now. I have that 1 day to get stuff done. I get on top of all chores and errands on my day off and get to do the school run. I would cling onto part time as long as I can.

serbska · 19/09/2018 22:28

I did 4 for a bit.

Basically ended up working 5 days in 4 and taking the pay hit... and work didn’t respect my non working day so I ended up having to move t (and invite extra child care costs) or take calls on it anyway.

Went back to 5 pretty sharpish so at least got paid off it and had full time child care, but tried to work from home one day a week where possible (not a fixed day).

mockorangey · 19/09/2018 22:43

I work 4 days (although on mat leave at the moment). I did ask at the phone interview stage whether 4 days would be possible, as I knew I wouldn't take the job if it wasn't 4 days (I already had a 4 day week agreed with my employer at the time). I think the interviewers were a bit taken aback, but did also appreciate my honesty, and later said I was very brave!

Anyway, 4 days have been great for me. I've always had Mondays off which allowed me a nice chilled out day with DS, or occasionally a playdate so I could catch up with mummy friends. Having Mondays off has meant I'm not paying for Monday bank holidays at nursery (when it is closed) and also means I get those BH back as extra days of annual leave. Now that DS is starting school, I have noticed that the teacher training days tend to be on Mondays, which is great as I already have the childcare covered.

Work wise, I've found that I tend to be treated as an equal member of the team, which is good as I'm not passed over for new projects/opportunities. I probably do have a similar workload to my colleagues, but I have input to my own timelines at work so I just tend to be honest about what I think I can achieve. I haven't had any problems so far.

fiorentina · 19/09/2018 22:48

I work 4 days and I asked at first interview. Although there aren’t many similar jobs locally, I wanted to be upfront and already worked 4 days in my previous role so talked through how I made it work.

They were very open and it is great. Yes I keep an eye on emails on my day off but do both school runs and have a day at home to do play dates etc and obviously with them in the holidays.

didireallysaythat · 19/09/2018 22:59

My workplace had a couple of people on 4 day weeks but they aren't allowed Mondays or Fridays off (strategic planning and company mtg days). Tuesdays aren't the day to have off (you only just going !) so I think most had Wednesday off (if you have Thursday off you still have to come back for Friday). But most realised that they were still doing 5 days work but not getting paid for the 5th day (their work loads didn't really go down) so they came back full time. Which isn't great as the last few people who have asked have been refused with the reasons including "it didn't work for others" and "changing work patterns was disruptive". Hey ho

CountFosco · 19/09/2018 23:10

I've worked 4 days a week for years. Make sure Monday is your day off, otherwise you will use more days for bank holidays than your pro rata allowance.

I think how well it works depends on the job, my last job I worked on multiple projects so the number of projects were reduced to reflect the number of days so it worked fine. DH and I both worked 4 days and it was good to both have some time at home with the kids when they were younger.

I'm now doing a job that can't be squashed into a shorter time. I now work 90% but end up doing overtime a lot. My (male) colleagues laugh at me because I'm being paid less to do the same job, I'm the only PTer in the team. But at the moment it's worth it because I can pick the kids from school twice a week and that flexibility is important.

Chippednails · 19/09/2018 23:15

Hate to hijack but I’m in a similar situation to OP but I’ve mentioned at phone interview stage that I’m looking for flexible working but not specified what. In fact I want 3 days 😬. I’d planned to try and sell it at the interview but isnthis a really bad idea?! What should I say if they specifically ask what flexible working I want? Should I fudge it and say working from home then change to PT if I get offered the job? My only hope was that it was a very specialised role so I’m unlikely to have a lot of competition!! I’d really appreciate any thoughts. (I made 3 days work in my last job btw... just...)

purplemunkey · 19/09/2018 23:26

I work 4.5 days in 4, so only small drop in salary for an extra day at home. I love it. I asked about flexibility at application stage, it was queried before I got to interview and I explained what I was looking for, and that I'd actually only be working 3 or so hours less than FT. Got the interview and then job. To be honest I'm not sure I would've got to interview stage if I'd asked for 3 days after answering a FT ad - an employer would really need to look at a job share or reduced work load to accommodate that.

I had previously been working 3 days, which I enjoyed very much in terms of time with my young DC but I was very aware that my career was on hold - I couldn't really progress working those hours. I can now, while still getting extra time at home, so I feel it's a good balance. Plus I've increased my income which is great.

AnotherEmma · 20/09/2018 07:36

“I had previously been working 3 days, which I enjoyed very much in terms of time with my young DC but I was very aware that my career was on hold - I couldn't really progress working those hours.”

That’s how I feel working 3 days and that’s why I think 4 days would be ideal.

Chippednails · 20/09/2018 10:19

Thanks for the advice. I’d planned to pitch it at the interview but maybe that’s not a good idea then. The problem is I really don’t want to go up to 4 days until my youngest is in school next year. I’m not too concerned with progression at this stage - more just keeping my hand in until I can go for it a bit more. There is a lot of flexibility with working from home etc so I wonder if I try and pitch flexi hours to do as much as possible. It’s such a minefield and I don’t want to put them off!!

purplemunkey · 20/09/2018 16:19

Certainly broach flexibility in your interview - their response will give you an idea of how flexible they are willing to be.

If you're willing to turn down the job for anything more than 3 days you've got nothing to lose by asking about that up front. If you're open to working more whether that's compressed hours/work from home etc then just say you'd like to explore the options - the detail is probably then best left until offer stage. I certainly wouldn't say one thing in the interview then ask for something else at offer stage.

Chippednails · 20/09/2018 19:41

Thanks that’s helpful advice - they say they’re flexible but you can never tell how much that’s true!

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