To work 4 days a week or 5 shorter days?

[Schoolzie101]

What would you do in this situation...

Currently I work Mon- Thurs, 9/9.20- 5. (Since my son started at school my start time has skewed but has not been took off my daily hours). I don't think I get paid for lunch, it's 1 hr and I get roughly £1450 a month after tax. My son then does after school club until 6. Dh works long hours also. Our evenings are pretty much took over with tea, clean up, Prep for the next day then a long bedtime routine.

I am toying with the idea of 5 short days- 9(ISH!) Til 3, if my boss would let me.

My thinking for this is yes I would lose the 6.5 ish child free hours on a Friday however I would gain 2 hours every day (as I would be home at 3.45 instead of 5.45) and would save £200 a month (give or take the tax free childcare - after school club is £12.50 a day I think).

What would you do in my situation? It seems like a no brained but would I be doing myself out of a lot of money? I think I currently do 7 hrs a day (not Inc the lunch break) so that would be 28 hrs a week, whereas doing 9-3 Monday- Friday would be 6x5= 30? (So if anything am I gaining a day) .

I just don't know what to do but at the moment working 4 full days a week just is not suited for me at the moment

Just checked, after school club is £11 so roughly £150 a month with the tax free childcare

Presumably on Fridays during the school holidays you don’t need childcare at the moment whereas you will have to factor in paying for them if you change your hours.

Does the school have many events or occasions where parents are expected to attend because you might find the day off useful for that then.

@TheSnowyOwl that's a good point I hadn't thought of re needing childcare on the Friday in holidays, thank you!

Could you do 3 full days and 2 half days?

Working 5 days a week is a lot easier to work out holiday entitlement and time off for bank holidays.

Personally I'd rather have the day off than work 5 days

I currently work 8.30 - 2.30 and it’s perfect. DH drops the kids into school and I pick them up everyday. No extra childcare needed. I also get those catch the teacher at the gate moments, school mum friends and a chance to hear how their days were.

The are some downsides, everyday is a rush to finish and get to school, DH can work on a few extra hours or pop to the shop on his way home but I can’t. It’s a bit like still working, doing the pick up, taking them to clubs, homework and tea so no time to get any jobs done. My in laws have kindly offered to pick them up and have them 1 afternoon a week so I get my child free time then. I would consider keeping the afterschool club 1 evening if you can.

What's your commute like?

I've done both and prefer 4 long days. When I work short days I always feel I am rushing to finish work and leaving things half finished.

Also I think people assume you are full time if you are there every day and you get given the same workload as full time staff (whereas someone who doesn't work Mondays is obviously part time and won't be given work on their day off).

Personally I like to have at least one day off on a school day. It's my gym time, coffee morning time, medical/hair appointment time, batch cooking and blitzing the house time, staying in for deliveries and tradesmen time.

I did this when DC started school. From a family POV I’m glad I did- much easier to facilitate after school swimming etc, reading and homework done earlier, it’s just nice to be around for DC. BUT I am knackered from rushing to work to collect them, sort them out etc etc. Definitely the best thing for DC and therefore am glad I have done it, but it does feel like I have no time to pick up any slack elsewhere, if that makes sense.

@TheHennaHairedHarridan commute, I leave at about 8.20 and after school drop off am in work at approx 9.15. On way home leave at 5 and home by around 5.45.

I think with lower primary age children it's a real benefit to be able to pick them up from school and have a relaxed evening. Of course that's with the flip side that you lose your day to yourself - but then does your DH have a day to himself?

don't know about where you are but school hours childcare is also easier to find than full day childcare in holidays. So I wouldn't consider that a downside. Do you have the sort of job where you could revert to full days in holidays temporarily if wanted?

Could you reduce your current hours to 4 days finishing at 3? You'll get less pay, but you'll be saving on after school club and gaining time and reducing stress.

So you'll also have an extra 1 hour 45 mins commuting time/costs if you work 5 days? That would be another factor against for me.

Will your dc still have to do some form of after school or do they finish at 3.45? Unless you can pick them up straight from school I don't see the point.

Me too, because you also waste x% getting ready, travelling, admin etc

Would it be an option to work compressed hours by loosing your lunch break and then leaving earlier?

obviously this is very dependent on what you do

I was working 3 full and 2 short days until recently, having moved from a 3 day a week job. After 6 months I put in a request to reduce my hours to have a day off - I needed the head space. I think you would find it a bigger adjustment than you think you will.

I did 5 shorter days when DS was younger, working 9-3. Much preferred it. I didn't need an extra day off in the week as it just meant I'd be sitting around at home bored as everyone else was at work. Being there after school for DS was much nicer, not having to rush around in the evenings with dinner and reading and things.

Although I wfh 3 days a week so I only had 2 days commute which made it easier.

Some of that 1 hour and 45 minutes will be taking the DC to school - which she'll still have to do. And, she'll then have to go home again after school drop off.
So if school is 15 minutes away, it's only an extra 45 minutes more.

It's the commute from school-work that's the bit that needs to be considered.

Just to echo what has already been mentioned - I had this pattern and it was great for the children, but I found it tiring on me.

Working 5 short days I felt like I should have time to do things because I worked part time, but I didn’t! I didn’t have time to do any extra house work, because every minute of my time at home was busy childcare. I obviously did things like cook dinner, clothes washes etc but no real cleaning etc. I definitely didn’t have time to do things like appointments or see friends or go to the gym (things I did on 4 days a week). I also found people treated me as though I worked full time and some would even have a bit of a moan about me leaving at 3pm!

But it was definitely the best thing for the children to be honest. I would 100% do it again for primary age children.

I work Monday-Thursday 8-6pm and have Friday off. It's great, the whole day off is way more valuable than 5 1-2 hour slots.

I have a 2 year old who goes to nursery mon-Thursday and we have Friday together

My ideal would be 3 days 8-6 and 2 days off but sadly working part time doesn't work out financially for our family

OP has a school age child though. Very different scenario. The 2 hours after school becomes much more valuable.

maybe doing 4 days 9-3 instead of 5 days 9-3 would be the best of both worlds ... as I would finish at 3 in time for school pick up and still have the Friday off also.

now to approach my boss.!