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Original poster

No pay rise in years - work more hours?

33 replies

TetherWhether · 04/02/2022 21:05

I'm in a constant dilemma as to whether I should work more hours.

We're a typical "just about managing" family.

No debt but equally no holidays in a while, the cinema feels a massive splurge...

And no prospect of a pay rise soon.

I'm part time - a bit more than school hours. I work 5 days, finishing at 2.45 to pick up DC. I could technically apply for flexi so I could do an extra 8.5 hours a week making me on full time pay. It'd be an extra £10k a year before tax.

But my DC are only Y2 and Y5. And I'd be doing the extra hours in he evening meaning fewer bedtimes, probably a bit more tired and grumpy. Definitely less time with DH.

I've always concluded it's best to stay part time - for DC and for me. But the energy prices, weekly shop going up and up etc just feels so miserable, I'm starting to think I should just go FT for a bit.

What would you do? An extra £320 a month (ish) and sacrifice a few evenings regularly, or time with family?

OP posts:
Aposterhasnoname · 04/02/2022 21:09

Extra money, all day long.

Original poster
TetherWhether · 04/02/2022 21:25

Ah, interesting. I was feeling I was having terrible thoughts!

OP posts:
itwasntaparty · 04/02/2022 21:29

I'd go for the money.

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PaperMonster · 04/02/2022 21:29

You might be better going for the extra money. I hadn’t had a pay rise in 10 years and was forced to take on an additional part time job which has opened up opportunities for me in the long run.

Stompythedinosaur · 04/02/2022 21:34

I'd do the extra hours, probably sacrafice a weekend day to it (with your partner doing the childcare/house stuff on this day) and then have a family day the other day.

Doesn't sound too arduous as your other days aren't too long.

Your partner would have to step up their input on housework and childcare though.

trilbydoll · 04/02/2022 21:37

Isn't there a compromise? Do 2 longer days and keep 3 early finishes?

I do 33 hours over 5 days, kids in after school club 2 days per week. Works really well.

Nomorescreentime · 04/02/2022 21:55

Would it push you over a tax band? I work 4 days a week but if I went up to 5 the extra amount in my pocket each month worked out to be quite disappointing.

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 04/02/2022 21:57

Take the work

Original poster
TetherWhether · 04/02/2022 21:58

I'd still have to do pick up @trilbydoll There's no after school club here or childminders that cover the school (rural area). So I'd do that then 2 or more likely 3 nights a week start working again at 7pm until 10-11.30pm ish

I'm still thinking it might be worth it though. Even as a trial.

OP posts:
Original poster
TetherWhether · 04/02/2022 21:59

@Nomorescreentime Yes - it would. It would also affect childcare vouchers (which I use for holiday clubs) as I'd only be able to get £124 a month rather than £243. I'd be about £350 a month better off even still though.

OP posts:
Isittooearlyforbed · 04/02/2022 22:05

Have a look at the government scheme for tax free childcare. Whatever you put in is topped up by 20%, you can’t use vouchers at the same time but it might work out better for you if you only need it for holiday club. You can use the tax free to pay most Ofsted registered providers.

In answer to your question I would go up to full time. For the sake of an hour or so a day it’s a lot of extra cash every month

BurntO · 04/02/2022 22:30

If you Have had no pay rise in years I’d take your experience elsewhere and look at a new job with increased pay…. Will probably come with more hours but if your current option is only to work more hours you may as well look elsewhere for doing it on a better wage

Glittertwins · 05/02/2022 08:17

If you are already in the original childcare voucher scheme, you will be able to increase it to £243 because the scheme is tied to your employer. I did this with my hours as I was part time to begin with and went full time same employer.

Glittertwins · 05/02/2022 08:18

Sorry, keep it. As long as you employed by the same company

CayrolBaaaskin · 05/02/2022 08:22

More hours definitely if you are struggling financially. You can’t afford to work such short hours

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 05/02/2022 08:23

Option c look for a new, better paid job! How have you not had a pay rise in 10 years? Do you think your employer could replace you at the same rate of pay?

AllotmentTime · 05/02/2022 08:29

I wouldn’t. I’ve just finished a session like this. Six month maternity cover contract, which was a good choice because it got me in the door for the part time job I now have, but god DH and I were both knackered by the end of it. Finishing work, doing bedtime, and then starting again was soul destroying. Our DC are year 1 & 4.

Also consider how much extra you would spend on holiday childcare, whether you’d struggle to cover children’s illness, etc.

Only you know your financial situation, but yeah, I wouldn’t go back to that unless I had no choice. Sorry Sad

AllotmentTime · 05/02/2022 08:35

To add: I’d totally consider working full time with the childcare in place to support it, but as it was only 6 months for us we didn’t want to disrupt the children too much, so went for the setup like you described, working school hours and then starting again in the evenings. DH and I were both in agreement that if we both worked full time as a long term plan, then we’d definitely need proper after school childcare.

LittleGungHo · 05/02/2022 09:09

Would another company pay you more? I moved company and got a 75% pay increase.

Chewbecca · 05/02/2022 09:38

Exactly as PP said - look for a new role.

Another option is to ask for a pay rise if your pay has become out of line for the market rate for your role?

ClaudiaWankleman · 05/02/2022 09:40

Look around for a new job. There is a surplus of jobs at the moment (concentrated in some sectors but it does vary geographically too) and you might find you can get a good pay rise with a simple sideways move.

Middleagedfemaleangst · 05/02/2022 09:50

You could get up at 7am on Saturday and crack out 4 hours while your DH has the kids and still have plenty of family time. Then you’ve only got 4.25 hours to make up in the week which is an extra hour every day mon-thurs evening and you can still have a Friday early finish.

Middleagedfemaleangst · 05/02/2022 09:52

Also at year 2 and year 5 you can give snacks and do an hour while they’re watching TV surely? Then you aren’t giving up too much evening time as I know it’s soul sucking to log on after kids are in bed. I do that a few nights a week and we have something I’ve heated up from earlier batch cooking or have freezer food or beans on toast type dinner so I’m cutting out cooking time.

AgathaMystery · 05/02/2022 09:52

I’d look for a new job. These are tough years, but they are golden. We don’t ever get them back. I’m not saying it to guilt you AT ALL (I have 5 jobs) but I think there might be another job out there for you.

Summersdreaming · 05/02/2022 09:57

Split days are harder in some ways than one long work day. I used to work 9-4 then 6-11 and it was hard. I would rather work a 12 hour day in one go.

I wouldn't want to be so rural that there are no childminders or ASC either, but I'm guessing moving is not an option.