4 day week - take Monday or Friday off?

[Wishimaywishimight]

I am thinking of dropping to a 4 day week (pending employer's approval obviously). Currently i work 37.5 hours so would think about dropping to 32 hours over 4 days so not a huge drop in hours. There would of course be a drop in salary and pension payments, not sure of any other disadvantages. We have recently paid off the mortgage so have a little more flexibility now.

With regard to what day to ask for, what happens with regard to bank holidays if you don't normally work Mondays? Do you get another day off in the week instead or perhaps get paid for the day you are 'losing'?

Any particular advantages to taking Monday over Friday (or vice versa)?

I’d take the Mondays, but Fridays at my work always have a lovely energy as everyone’s looking forward to the weekend! And occasionally we’re allowed to clock off early. Also gets rid of the “Sunday scaries” (if you get those; that feeling of dread as work approaches!)

Mondays. Fridays are a good day at my work, everyone’s in a good mood and looking forward to the weekend. Also, there are often fewer meetings on a Friday afternoon and so I get more work done to set me up for the next week.

Monday. Just because I'm rubbish on a Monday
(but then maybe i'd just be rubbish on a Tuesday instead)

Sorry, to clarify - I actually do work Tuesday- Friday. It works well for me. Initially I was thinking of taking Wednesdays off, but my manager thought that would be more disruptive- and I see his point.

I work 4 days with Friday off. Im lucky that I can move my day off to cover DDs hospital appointments and bank holidays but I imagine this is quite rare. I like having Fridays off as have a day to myself before the weekend.

I get 80% of holiday allowance and bank holidays so if I cant swap my day off to cover the bank holiday it costs me a full days holiday.

I checked and they actually pay for the bank holiday for those who don't work Mondays; "if a public holiday falls on a day which is not part of your working week you get paid for that day. "

I have Wednesdays off. It's like having an extra weekend. I love it.

I don't work Mondays. You get to enjoy your weekend without the Sunday evening cloud.

Take the Mondays off, I do 4 days and it's so much better without the Sunday evening feeling. And no, I don't get it on a Monday.

Controversial but I used to like Thursdays.

It felt like I did a 3 day week as Friday was just an easy day to finish off. Never off for too long so no worries if stuff didn't get done on Weds it was done on Friday. Only 1 day leave needed for a 5 days off on BH weekends.

We've been talking about this in the office recently. I quite fancy Wednesdays off. I took on off for something last year and it was great having just 2 days in at a time 😃

I work 4 days and I have Wednesday off. It's lovely to have a great mid week

I work part-time. The calculation of annual leave entitlement (including bank holidays) is pro rata. If you plan to work 32h/w (and a standard full-time week is 37.5h) then you will be doing 85.3% and your leave entitlement should be calculated accordingly. So the statutory minimum of 28 days (including bank holidays) would be 23.9 days for you. Your employer might have to work it out in hours, though, because your days will be 8h long rather than 7.5h. It's a bit complicated!

If you work Mon-Thu you'll have to use annual leave for every bank holiday Monday which means less leave to use flexibly when you want (but you obviously will have quite a few 3 day weeks because of bank holiday Mondays). If you work Tue-Fri you will have more leave to use flexibly when you want. You should get the same amount of leave overall.

Thanks @AnotherEmma many thanks for that, seems really clear now that the best option is to work Tues to Friday. Much as I like the idea of a day off mid-week I think a longer weekend would suit me better.

👍

I've had both Monday and Friday off as a 4 day working week, and prefer Friday.
My work is pretty fast paced but not as many meetings or decisions on a Friday. With a Monday I always felt I was on the back foot trying to catch up, mind you I never got the Sunday night blues and got more meetings in on Fridays as peoples diaries are clearer.

With our work you just get your BH hours pro rata and adjusted based on which ones you are working, so it's totally fair.

I work a four day week. Don't work Mondays. Never get asked to make an exception for something allegedly urgent, easier to come back if away on a Monday (no rail replacement buses!), and get extra days off to account for the bank holidays (formula that I never wholly understand but seems sensible).

Just be careful with how annual leave is calculated for part timers. Where I am we're in hours and ft is in days. So I have to book bh from that. I don't work Mondays as a result as I think that's a bit cheeky.

Friday off. I do it I love it.

mondays are good from a bank holiday point of view
however not everywhere is open on mondays, i have found,

That’s true @Willmafrockfit. Monday is the new Sunday. Sunday evenings are also very limited as far as eating out is concerned.

Take Friday off. I have a colleague who takes Monday off and she's on the back foot all week.

I recently swapped from being off on a friday to being off on a Monday. Works much better for me plus the additional BH time to take in school hols. Fridays are really productive for me as so many people don't work it where I am so it suits me really well.

I used to have a wednesday off, no dread on a sunday night as you only work 2 days, have a whole day off, go in on a thursday thinking only 2 days and it is the weekend again. I used to enjoy fridays at work.
Not so sure if this would appeal now with more wfh?

I've done both. I prefer taking Mondays off because everywhere is quieter, shops, parks, everywhere really. Fridays feel almost as busy as Saturdays around here. I have Fridays off at the minute because I know a lot of people who also have Fridays off so it's nice and social but I'd definitely prefer to have Mondays off instead.