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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:
TuesdayinSeptember · 28/02/2021 12:54

Always Mondays because of the BH issue. That way you can in effect turn your bank holidays which fall on a Monday into AL ie days you choose when to take.

MapleMay11 · 28/02/2021 12:55

Friday. So many benefits, in particular you can spend hours preparing to look relaxed, glowing and fabulous for the weekend.

NerdyBird · 28/02/2021 13:09

I take Mondays off. For part-timers where I work, your annual leave is pro-rated, then you get bank holidays added on pro-rated. Any bank holiday that falls on a day you work you have to take as annual leave. So not working on Monday helps as I only have to take Good Friday and any Xmas/NY and maximises the days available for when school is closed.
At the nursery dd went to, Monday was their busiest day for places, but Friday was quieter as so many people take Friday off. Also there was nothing major taking place on a Monday that made work difficult so it really suits me.
The place I work is really great with flexible working and that sort of thing but not all companies are.

AndOffFlewMyLastFuck · 28/02/2021 13:16

I'd choose Wednesday or Friday, loads of places are closed on Mondays

anditgoeson · 28/02/2021 13:17

I used to have Fridays off and now I have Mondays off and I really miss my Fridays. I used to be able to start the weekend early, clean my house do my shopping it was great and I could have everything organised for the weekend. Mondays just aren't the same.

bluechameleon · 28/02/2021 13:29

I used to have Monday and now have Wednesday. I liked Monday because it was nice to go to bed on Sunday evening knowing you had another day. Bank Holidays were pretty much irrelevant to me (teacher). Negative thing about Monday is that quite a few museums etc are shut. Also it was a bit annoying missing any start of the week stuff at work (briefings, starting a new topic etc). Wednesday is good because it breaks the week up, most things are open and you are there for the start and end of the week at work so don't feel like you miss out. Bad thing is you can never go away for a long weekend.

Kitkat151 · 28/02/2021 13:40

@TuesdayinSeptember

Always Mondays because of the BH issue. That way you can in effect turn your bank holidays which fall on a Monday into AL ie days you choose when to take.
This^ more leave to rake when YOU want it
ThriceAsNaice · 28/02/2021 13:44

Would say not Mondays as some places like hairdressers and cafes are closed on Mondays.

PuppyMonkey · 28/02/2021 13:46

Another vote for Monday. The bank holiday thing is great (not quite following Rubicon's earlier post where she says it's not best btw Confused)

Also it's just lovely to not have the Sunday evening dread and deciding how many glasses of wine to have later without worrying about having to go to work like most others. Grin

Having to "catch up" after a Monday off has never been an issue for me. Most offices I've worked in start the week off quite quietly and don't get a lot done on Mondays, so you don't miss that much IME.

BearEastie · 28/02/2021 13:48

Some companies do not let you turn the BH Monday into AL - they make you take it as BH and as your Weekly Day Off.

That's why it isn't great for some companies - and why the OP needs to check with her employer first about what arrangement there will be.

TheCatWithTheFluffyTail · 28/02/2021 13:48

Having Mondays off feels as if you miss out as several bank holidays are on that day anyway and, as your leave will be pro rata into hours, you might find you lose some of your annual leave to balance out the bank holiday time off.

I used to have Wednesdays off and loved it. I used to book Tuesdays after a bank holiday off so I had five days off for one days’ holiday.

Kitkat151 · 28/02/2021 13:52

@TheCatWithTheFluffyTail

Having Mondays off feels as if you miss out as several bank holidays are on that day anyway and, as your leave will be pro rata into hours, you might find you lose some of your annual leave to balance out the bank holiday time off.

I used to have Wednesdays off and loved it. I used to book Tuesdays after a bank holiday off so I had five days off for one days’ holiday.

I’ve had Monday’s off for years......love that I get the Monday bank holidays off as annual leave to take when I want to.....never realised that other places didn’t do the same ( I’m NHS)..... is that even legal??
haggisandmarsbar · 28/02/2021 13:55

Friday. I love not working on a Friday.

Thewishingchair123 · 28/02/2021 14:01

If your role is quite full-on with lots of meetings/working overtime etc, I would recommend taking Fridays off rather than Mondays.
From my own experience only, lots of plans for the week take place on Monday, and I’d be playing more catch-up by taking Mondays off than if I took the end of the week off. It does vary though and lots of other important factors mentioned upthread.

EileenGC · 28/02/2021 14:19

My weekend is always Sunday-Monday. I love how quiet the city is on a Monday when I need to go for appointments or do the shopping, not many people seem to have Monday off around here.

It also means I can fly back from weekend trips on a Monday night for a fraction of the cost of what it would cost on Sunday pm.

Changeismyname · 28/02/2021 14:25

I went for Friday after having DS2 because DS1’s school would have parent assemblies, events, etc most frequently on Fridays.

Findahouse21 · 28/02/2021 14:29

I also have Wednesday off because if my life is falling apart eg no batch cooking, no ironed uniforms etc, I only have to survive two days maximum before I get time to pull it back in track. It also breaks the week up for dc, as Wednesdays are a slightly slower pace eg no breakfast/after school club needed for school age dc so they can get up a bit later. My employer is also reasonably flexible in that if there is a school event, I can swap my day that week

Findahouse21 · 28/02/2021 14:30

Also, fun things at work usually happen on a Friday, so didn't want to always be missing after work drinks, dress up days etc

MirandaWest · 28/02/2021 14:34

Between May and September we had to reduce our hours (and pay) by 20%. I took Wednesdays off and found it really broke the week up nicely.

If I were going to reduce my hours I would probably go for Wednesdays off.

clpsmum · 28/02/2021 14:36

Definitely Wednesdays

Faith50 · 28/02/2021 14:38

Wednesday or Friday

Emsie1987 · 28/02/2021 14:42

I have just gone back and I went back Tuesday to Friday. Positives I get the bank holidays as extra annual leave so can take the days off when I want. Don't get the Sunday dread feeling. I am not exhausted from a week of work to do bits with my child on my day off. Helps me get prepared for the week ahead. Three day weekends which saves annual leave for long weekends away. Negatives. I find I still have to look at work emails due to Monday being a busy day. A lot of team meetings happen that day to plan for the week ahead so miss out on them. I have asked for them to be recorded and listen back.

I didn't choose the Monday. Nursery spaces did.

Cheator · 28/02/2021 14:44

I had Wednesday, it meant baby only had to 2 days in nursery at a time. They can be long days for toddlers and it was nice for them to have a little break.

SquigglePigs · 28/02/2021 14:45

DD is 2 and I've had Wednesdays off since I went back and I love it. It feels like I'm never away from her for too long. It also worked really well for DD particularly when she first started at nursery - she was ready for a quieter day after two busy days at nursery.

MoriParty · 28/02/2021 15:01

I chose Wednesday when my employer gave me the choice. Means I only ever work 2 days in a row and never feel exhausted as I get a mid week break. As pp said you get the friday feeling twice a week!

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