Which working hour pattern would you prefer?

[joeysapple]

Choices are:

Working pattern 1:
3 days 9-4
2 days 9-5

Or

Working pattern 2:
4 days 9-5.30?

Commute is about an hour each way So pattern 2 would mean not getting home until 6.30pm or later 4 days a week.

I would do the 4 days so I could have a day off.

4 days, it's always good to have a week day day off. Saves money on commuting costs

4 days definitely. I'd much prefer a whole day off rather than a few extra hours during the week, which you'll probably not end up using very productively. You can get stuff done on your day off and you'll also feel more refreshed starting the working week again.

4 days definitely

4 days

It would depend on the age of any children/if you have any at all. Because if they are school age then pattern 1 would allow me to get home in time to do dinner/reading etc whereas pattern 2 would mean 4 nights a week were a massive rush.

If they're nursery aged then pattern 2 does save you a day's childcare fees per week but again might mean very little quality time in the evenings.

Overall I'd go for 1

Four days!

4 days. That's my pattern and that day off is worth its weight.

4 days!

Child is secondary school age but doesn't like being home alone, especially when it's dark (ie from 3.30pm in winter!). I'm hoping this will pass soon and under either option being home alone is going to happen, although would be until later under the 4 day pattern.

I'm going to go against the grain and say pattern 1 if child is secondary age and will be home alone. If they were in nursery or childcare I'd have said 2.

4 longer days. Can't dc stay at school in library doing homework?

I'd prefer 4 days full stop.
My questions before deciding would be:
Is it possible to work from home at all?
Do they offer flexible working? So could you for example start at 830 is was practical re school runs?
Can you only take the 20-30 minutes legal lunch break so that you shave 30-40 off the end of your day by a shorter lunch?

An earlier start and shorter lunch hour would make all of the options more palatable for me.

Though having commuted for 60-90 minutes before, I'd never go back to that with a school aged child I'm afraid.

4 days, hands down.

Pattern 1 for me as I have young children so would rather get home early and obviously they need collection from childcare which only opens until 6.15 so it would be an issue on days DH was in a late meeting and couldn't collect. If I had older children then definitely pattern 2.

4 days. I actually would like to do my hours over 3 12 hour days but work won't allow that!

I’d do 4 days, having a day at home to catch up on yourself without kids is invaluable and your child is old enough that 6.30 is a reasonable time to be home both from the point of them being home alone and you having time with them in the evenings.

I was about to say the 2 days 9 -5 option I couldn't understand why there was any question ha!

Definitely the 4 days, a day to catch up is really worth the extra hour on the other days, you're there already so push through and get the hour done and you can lose a commute each week. Its not just one day less at work its one more day off per week 4/3 is a much nicer balance than 5/2.

I would always choose 5 days over 4, but I would also stick to 9-5 if possible (and less pay) rather than 5.30.

Are you a single parent? Just thinking if you have a partner maybe you could try and organise yourselves so that one of you is home early maybe one day a week each?

I meant to say I would always choose 4 days over 5! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Four days. And Wednesday as your day off is a complete game-changer (assuming you work Mon-Fri). I loved my Wednesday off, far more than either Monday or Friday.

4 days. Your DC is going to be home in the dark from October whatever you do.

4 days, nice to have 3 days off and less commute.

4 days every time
You will get so much more done in that 1 full day than the extra bits of hours and it's 1 day a week dc done come home to an empty house

Agree worth asking for shorter lunch break and finish earlier

4 days. Always nice to have a day off that's not the weekend.