Please decide my working hours for me!

[grapesofcat]

I'm about to move jobs to one that is 24.5 hours per week (basically 3.5 days per week). It's a 45 minute commute each way, some of this through country roads. In winter this can mean driving in the dark if I leave early in the morning or get back late afternoon, which I dislike. It is quite flexible so I can negotiate which days to work up to a point. There may be a small amount I could do from home but it will primarily be on site. I have to take a 30 minute unpaid lunch break so that's on top of official hours. Some options are:

1. 8.30am to 4pm x 3 days/ 4 days on alternate weeks. Means I get to do more driving in daylight hours in winter and get home earlier to teen dc for after school stuff.
2. 8am to 4.45pm x 3 days per week. Means an earlier alarm and getting home later in the evening plus more driving in the dark but means a 3 day week every week.
3. As in number 1 but on a fourth day of every week, try to negotiate a half day from home (I'm not sure if this will be an option but could ask).

Just to add, I do some self-employed work on other days of the week so would plan to do another day or so of this each week as well, this is largely from home.

I'm tempted to go for the shorter rather than longer days but am torn because across the year, this will mean a lot of extra days where I have to drive and do a full day on site. I have yet to speak to the manager about hours so am trying to work out what would work best beforehand.

Any advice or ideas welcome!

Bumping!

Anyone???

I'd definitely go for option 2, a 3 day working week!

Thank you! Yes that would be great but then the longer days are something else to consider.

How about 8-4.15 for 3 days a week, then the small remainder ask to work from home on one of your spare mornings?

Also, how flexible are your work once the hours have been agreed? Eg you could agree the 3 day a week option, but if ever you have a tiring/busy week, work less hours per day and catch them up on one of your non working days?

The 3 day week option. It's totally fine, I work 22.5 hours over 3 days and often end up doing slightly more anyway.

I get you don't like driving in the dark and it's a longer day, but otherwise you'll have a hassle trying to work out your holidays and you have a whole other day you have to do that commute.

Could you propose another option of 3 normal days in the office and your half day from home?

Thanks so much for your perspectives! I really like the idea of 3 normal days and then a half day from home. The other self-employed work I do is mainly from home and I love home working. I probably need to put some feelers out to check on the approach to home working in this particular team, I'm not sure how embedded it is.

I’d just ask for the half day at home. Don’t be shy!

I'd do 3 days unless you'd plan to do your self employed work at the end of a workday.

The self-employed work would definitely be on other work days, I wouldn't have it in me to start something else when I get home. Great to hear that most people think three days is the way to go! I will try to pluck up the courage about asking for some working from home on the half days.

I would much rather do the 3 days

Thanks and I would just like to say that I love your username!

3 longer days & then in school holidays you are home more days to do stuff with kids. Also considering price of petrol & the time spent travelling it makes no sense to go in 4 days.

Option 2
3 days, over and done with.

Unless you are in the far north, it's only a few weeks that are dark at those hours, some of which are the Christmas and new year bank holidays.