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Original poster

Best day to have off work?

107 replies

peachypetite · 28/02/2021 10:26

I’m on maternity leave and thinking about my return, a little earlier than anticipated, but I need to decide how many days I need to put my baby in nursery etc. I’m probably going to go back for four days so what do you reckon is the best day off? Monday due to bank holidays?

OP posts:
Alfxn · 28/02/2021 10:28

I have fridays off. Love the 3 days off in a row (4 in a row on bank hols!). And some places like hair dressers etc are closed on Mondays

Mamamia35 · 28/02/2021 10:29

I've always done a Wednesday. It breaks up the week nicely, you get a Friday feeling twice a week. Also it's easier to get childcare places on a Monday and Friday because most parents are off then. I recommended this routine to a friend and she lioved it too. Good luck with the return.

Original poster
peachypetite · 28/02/2021 10:30

@Alfxn

I have fridays off. Love the 3 days off in a row (4 in a row on bank hols!). And some places like hair dressers etc are closed on Mondays
But aren’t they pro ratad?
OP posts:
Camomila · 28/02/2021 10:31

I would look at nurseries first and then decide based on what availability they have at your favourite nursery.

eg, DS2s nursery only had Mondays and Fridays free so I work Monday, Tuesday, Friday (atm DM is looking after him but once she's had her jab she'll look after him on Tuesdays and he'll go to nursery Mondays and Fridays)

MaverickDanger · 28/02/2021 10:32

It can depend on your contract.

I’m planning to go back four days & likely to take either Monday or Wednesday off.

It sounds like you have already decided on Mondays off!

LilithTheKitty · 28/02/2021 10:33

Personally, I'd take Friday or Wednesday. Monday is when we finalise the work for the week and discuss any changes from the previous week. Starting the weekend earlier also feels nicer than delaying the start of the week. I don't think my workplace likes mon/fri as non working days so my second choice would be Wednesday to break up my working time into even parts. I wouldn't like to have a single stray day to work.

kimlo · 28/02/2021 10:33

wednesday.

You don't work more than 2 days in a row and nurserys have more children in in the middle of a week.

lolulop · 28/02/2021 10:33

fridays for me because so do my friends

lolulop · 28/02/2021 10:34

& most school stuff is on fridays eg reading together, sports day, assemblies, plays etc.

mistermagpie · 28/02/2021 10:35

I have Mondays and Fridays off. It depends on your annual leave entitlement arrangements but I benefit a lot from my pattern because I get 0.69 of the public holidays back as annual leave (my post is 0.69 of full time hours) but I never work on those days so I end up with 8 weeks annual leave a year where I work! My DH works at the same place and has a Tuesday off, he gets less annual leave hours than I do despite working more hours. So it's worth looking at that side of things.

My boss wasn't bothered what days I worked but wanted my three days to be consecutive, so Monday and Friday off worked best. If I was picking one day off I would choose a Monday.

DuesToTheDirt · 28/02/2021 10:35

Probably Monday yes, due to the bank holidays. Otherwise (assuming the bank holidays are added in then pro-rataed, as is usual) everytime there is a Monday bank holiday you will have to take it as a holiday whether you want to or not, and it will come out of your holiday allowance.

DreamEvenBigger · 28/02/2021 10:36

Friday. Start Monday fresh and have no gap in the middle. Enjoy Bank Holiday Mondays (although you might not get paid for them depending on your contract).

AwFeebs · 28/02/2021 10:37

Wednesday for me, breaks the week up nicely.

DreamEvenBigger · 28/02/2021 10:37

@DuesToTheDirt

Probably Monday yes, due to the bank holidays. Otherwise (assuming the bank holidays are added in then pro-rataed, as is usual) everytime there is a Monday bank holiday you will have to take it as a holiday whether you want to or not, and it will come out of your holiday allowance.
Check your contract. My work gave me them unpaid, but not taken from my holiday allowance.
JamMakingWannaBe · 28/02/2021 10:37

Check what days (post-covid) toddler swimming classes, dance classes, stay&play sessions are in your area. I took a Wednesday. As pp it broke up the week.

saffire · 28/02/2021 10:39

Monday's cause then the bank holidays get added to your annual leave.

lockdownalli · 28/02/2021 10:40

Wednesday.

BerryPieandCustard · 28/02/2021 10:46

I have every Wednesday off... I love only having to work 2 days in a row, nicely breaks up my week. One of my co workers has a Friday off as he prefers a longer break from work

Original poster
peachypetite · 28/02/2021 10:46

Wednesday might be a good shout actually in terms of balancing the week.

OP posts:
OrangeBananaFish · 28/02/2021 10:47

I would say Wednesday because of the midweek break, closely I'd agree with Monday. If I want a long weekend and take AL I generally take a Monday off. Fridays there is usually a better atmosphere at work simply because its Friday and people are in the Friday mood.

lolulop · 28/02/2021 10:49

Also depends on the job. I work 3 days T,W,T but I need that continuous time to get stuck into things if that makes sense. I worked M,T & T at one point & it was taking me longer to get things crossed off the list.

GirlLovesWorld · 28/02/2021 10:50

I chose Wednesday so you've never got more than two days of work to do Grin

Coffeeandaride · 28/02/2021 10:50

Wednesday, not Monday as I’d miss too much of the buzz/news/plan for week

Vodkabulary · 28/02/2021 10:55

I had Wednesdays was fantastic meant I only ever had two days of work until got a break. I didn’t want Monday’s because of the bank holiday and everyone at my work wanted Fridays as their day off so they were over the moon I wanted a Wednesday

BearEastie · 28/02/2021 10:55

The thing with Mondays is you need to be careful with bank holidays - some places make you take the bank holiday and your day off as one - so you don't really get a day off. Negotiate this so you can flex that day.

I had Monday off previously and WFH on Tuesday - it was an ideal combination.

Friday in our office was always quiet as people were off or WFH so I was super productive, if we were travelling we could go on Saturday Morning when things were much quieter and we could return early Tuesday Morning (again when things were quiet), or Tuesday evening if I WFH elsewhere on the Tuesday.

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