Wwyd?

[Doughnuts68]

Job working 3 days a week but only 20 holidays and have to use 9 for Xmas meaning 3 weeks off to use a year. Or job with 9 weeks off but have to work more days?

I'd probably go for the first one, but that might not be right for you. Reason: More consistency in availabilty.

Depends on other factors, pay, hours, location and ease of getting there, who the employer is, type of work, etc etc.

Why do you need to use so many days for Christmas in the first job? Is the site closed for 3 weeks?

For the second job, do you get any say about when the 9 weeks are or are they fixed? If fixed, do the weeks suit you - I know of an employer who gives a similar number of weeks and all but one is in the school holidays, which is great for working parents, but not so great if you wouldn't otherwise want to take your leave during the school holidays....

The pay is the same, same type of work, roughly same location. First place need to use 9 days as its closed nearly 3 weeks. Second one, leave can be used anytime.

I'm guessing those 20 holidays include a pro-rated allocation of bank holidays and they close between Xmas and NY so you'd have to take the 4 BH days and the time in between out of your leave allowance.
9 weeks leave sounds amazing!!

emma- yes.

Wild- what do you mean in availability?

The second one. I had that leave set up in my last job and it was pretty dismal. 9 weeks is brilliant

Sorry, that was unclear of me. I meant more regular and predictable availability at home. I would choose less days at work = more with the family, even if there are less holidays. You'd also have a consistent routine the children are more adapted to year round.

It depends in the circs.

If you have school age kids so that leave would be great for school holidays, if you have kids at home those days in the week might be better

Do you need a full time wage?

Thanks all. DC are at home and the 3 days is full wage. Even though it’s only 3 days a week, it’s the fact that it would be only 2 or 3 full weeks to take a year. (Besides Xmas) Just wondered what others opinion was and if it’s worth working a 3 day week in those circumstances?

meant to say the 3 day a week may be 2 weeks leave not 3.

My current job requires mandatory leave over Christmas- it's nearly 3 weeks! But I have a young DC so it works well for me for now being off over the Christmas break.

Using 9 days for Christmas leaves you with 11 days or nearly 4 weeks in addition to 4 day weekends every week.

Working full time with 9 weeks holidays .ea s you will work approx 215 days.. assuming that 9 weeks includes bank holidays.

Working 3 days with 20 days holidays including Bank Holidays means you work 136 days.

What are those extra days worth?

I'd choose the first option.
4 days off every week so you'd only need 3 days holiday allowance every time for a week off, spread that over the year and then your Christmas holidays seems like you'd get plenty of time off. Reading what @ChateauMargaux has worked out regarding days of work I'd definitely choose option 1!

So option one would be 7 shifts in 2 weeks. Meaning 162 days in work. (Days off not in a block) compared to 136 days working a 3 day week.

I'd worry with option 1 that by the time you've had to use a few days when your DC are off sick that you'll have very little for actual time of all together.

I’d go for the latter.
I work 3 days a week with a compulsory shut down between Christmas and New Year (conveyancing solicitor). That’s fine but I wouldn’t want to have to take any more leave in December/January. It’s not the best time of year weather-wise.

That puts a different spin on it.. 7 shifts in 2 weeks is not the same as 10 days... it would depend if these shifts included nights.. and how difficult it would be to get childcare to cover.. easier for fixed days... the shift job is probably a lot more pay for an extra 26 days of work... but comes with the possible challenges of a different routine which can add complexities. Especially if your partner cannot cover the bits in between.

Thanks . childcare is sorted and there’s not more pay for extra 26 days.

Mixed replies.

Yes, on the 3 day week, it would be over 3 weeks leave around Xmas.