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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:
Babyroobs · 28/02/2021 15:04

My kids are older now but I have Wednesdays off. It breaks up the week.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 28/02/2021 15:05

I have a Wednesday off, although now WFH and do tend to do five days because my job has become much harder!

Wednesday is good in terms of breaking up the week, and I tend to do things like get my hair cut, eyebrows done, and batch cooking. We have an early finish on a Friday anyway.

reluctantbrit · 28/02/2021 15:07

I have Fridays off. A Monday off always throws me out of my usual routine. I am not too bothered about the holiday compensation but we get a decent holiday allowance anyway.

I prefer working days in a row as otherwise colleagues will just leave. On urgent work behind for me to catch up, bad experience when I swapped for a month. If I am off two days in a row they will do the work. Obviously different if you have a proper work share (saying that, it then depends on the attitude of your co-sharer) or you work in others kid of jobs.

Disfordarkchocolate · 28/02/2021 15:11

Wednesday so you never have to work more than 2 days in a row.

EatingAllThePies · 28/02/2021 15:12

I've tried a few days. Initially midweek but I felt like it was hard work as I got no continuous run at anything and ended up working late the day before a day off to make sure nothing needed cover the next day. I now have Mondays off and it works much better, I can do all my life admin at the start of the week which makes me feel organised. I'm currently doing half a day on Friday too and have realised that's a great day to work because I get fewer interruptions!

happymummy12345 · 28/02/2021 15:13

If it was me I'd have to choose to have Fridays off

MeadowHay · 28/02/2021 15:13

I have Fridays off, always enjoyed having a three day weekend and for my job I found working 4 days consecutively beneficial. I have some colleagues who don't work consecutive days and they tend to struggle as they always seem to be behind. This is probably partly a work planning issue on my employers part but I don't find I have that issue as by the end of the Monday back I've more then 'caught up' on any post from my Friday off before and then have another three solid days to bash work out and then can forget about it for three days and repeat. If I could work three days I'd drop the Monday or Thursday again to keep consecutive days for working.

AnneElliott · 28/02/2021 15:37

I'd vote for Wednesdays.

worcestersauce29 · 28/02/2021 15:37

Wednesday for me, I love only having a 2 day week!

Disfordarkchocolate · 28/02/2021 15:38

I think if you have Fridays off it can be very easy for your day off to be very dull because you try to get 'tidy for the weekend so you can relax'

Twospaniels · 28/02/2021 16:15

I work for the NHS and sometimes have to use a portion of my annual leave each year to cover all the bank holidays. It differs each year depending when Christmas Day and New Years Day fall.

Therefore as I work 4 days, I have Mondays off which means I get more annual leave hours to use.

AnnaSW1 · 28/02/2021 16:20

Wednesdays. Love never doing more than 2 days in a row

BikeRunSki · 28/02/2021 16:24

Think ahead to inset days. These are usually Mondays or Fridays. DD’s school generally does more on a Monday, so I chose Mondays. Unfortunately, DS’s middle school tends to have them on Fridays...

In my job, part timers are not allowed to have Wednesdays off (for a very good operational reason), but I always rather liked the idea of Wednesdays off. I find with Mondays off (which I have done for several years), but the time I’ve caught up with email etc it’s Tuesday lunchtime, and everyone in the swing of things, and I’m running to stand still at times. With Fridays off, you have to meet a lot of deadlines. Day early!

Oblomov21 · 28/02/2021 16:27

Depends. I have Fridays off.

Most bank holidays are Mondays, and a few other days. Most insets are Monday and Fridays.

NeedWineNow · 28/02/2021 16:40

We had a scheme during summer last year where we were doing 80% work for 80% pay and had a day off during the week. I had Tuesday which worked for me.

peak2021 · 28/02/2021 16:42

I only work four days a week, expecting to have to care/support mum in her home, more than has been the case so far. I have Mondays off, as it enables me to take her to places such as the garden centre or large scale shopping much more easily than if it was a Friday.

There are also fewer people at work having odd Mondays off than Fridays, and fewer meetings that I might miss.

whenwillthemadnessend · 28/02/2021 16:45

Fridays for sure! Monday's you miss out on bank hols on too

Moondust001 · 28/02/2021 16:47

On a practical basis as a manager - everyone and their mate wants Friday off! That is the day that I have most difficulty approving. Nobody wants Monday off. I know it sounds daft, but it's true - for some reason Friday off is great and Monday off isn't! I cannot fathom it. Maybe ask your manager what would work well?

BeeBop1456 · 28/02/2021 16:47

Bank holidays are usually pro rata. In my workplace staff that don’t work Mondays get a bank of hours. Some years they get some hours back and some they are in debit and have to pay back from their annual leave

Moondust001 · 28/02/2021 16:48

@whenwillthemadnessend

Fridays for sure! Monday's you miss out on bank hols on too
No you don't. Part-time workers get pro-rata time off.
Beforethetakingoftoastandt3a · 28/02/2021 16:48

I had fridays off for a few years and it suited as that was the day for school assembly.

It got moved to mondays without my permission. It changed my attitude to sundays but was a massive pita as hairdressers and my fav cafe sHut on mondays

wintertime6 · 28/02/2021 16:56

Mondays off definitely. With a lot of the bank holidays falling on Mondays, you'll have more flexibility to take days off when you want rather than being tied to having to take bank holidays off.

I really like having Mondays off and being able to get a few things done around the house/pick up food shopping etc. Makes you feel set up for the rest of the week without having to use up time on the weekend for those things. In some workplaces, Friday can be a bit more relaxed (not really in mine unfortunately!) so it can sometimes be a nice day to work.

EssentialHummus · 28/02/2021 17:02

Fridays as that’s what most mums in my social circle did, so easier to make plans together for the day. That aside, I’d probably go for Mondays.

Carycy · 28/02/2021 17:04

In my job I would possibly choose Monday’s off as In my mom I am give me the bank holidays pro- rata then they are taken off with each bank hol. When I used to work Mondays part time I ended up with less whole weeks of holidays left overall. It also removes the Sunday night fear.

Friday would be a close second. More time to get ready for Friday nights out and not so tired. Good for weekend get always. Hairdressers and restaurants are open unlike Monday.

It’s a close call between the two. What would clinche it thought would be what any friends had off at the same time and what was available at the nursery I wanted.

KnobJockey · 28/02/2021 17:11

Midweek works best for my DD- only having 2 days in a row at childcare. By the end of day 2 she's shattered and clingy.