Part time working and "flexibility"

[Redruns]

I have a senior job 3 days pw. I earn c. £70k, a not insignificant sum for PT and I do appreciate that I've fallen on my feet somewhat.

The job was advertised at 3 days pw, a decision the organisation took to save money following the retirement of the previous FT incumbent. I.e. it's not something I negotiated.

The workload is absolutely fine in the 3 days, I've no idea what the FT person did all day. What is trickier is being "there" when I'm needed. The role is such that I'm needed in meetings with people who have very busy calendars and I'm often asked to change my days because X can only make such and such a date.

If I consider it really important and/or I'm given enough notice I do change, but I work PT because I have other things I want to do with my time, I'm not sitting around "available" on my non working days.

I've recently got a new boss and I've said no to him twice in the last week. Once because I genuinely had unmovable plans once because frankly, I didn't think the request was important enough to cancel my pilates class and I'm setting some boundaries.

However, I am aware that I'm in a senior, well paid post, colleagues work outside their normal working hours. Should I be more flexible?

Fwiw, I'm nearing retirement and expect no further progression, which means I have nothing to gain from putting myself out, but maybe I should anyway?

Otoh, "they" took the decision that 3 days was enough, so they should work with that?

It makes no difference if it's childcare, a Pilates class or she just wants to sit her pants eating Wotsits and watch Love Island. She doesn't work those days.
Childcare is not a 'better' reason than any other.

Agree with others - hold the line! You're being flexible when you judge you can and should be. That's the right balance imo.

Are you swapping your days or just logging on for the time needed. I'd prefer to swap my days rather than have disruption on my free days. I think if you've got a commitment on your work free day then that should be respected regardless of what it is. As long as you show willing sometimes then that's all they should expect. I tended to be flexible if it helped me manage my work load rather than always responding to the needs of others.

Another vote to hold the boundary. If they want someone everyday then they can pay for 5 days. Rather than paying 3 days and relying on your flexibility. I do 4 days and lm sick of saying l don’t work Tuesdays and can’t “swap”. Swap with who?! My childminder won’t do a swap as if would mean some other child swapping days which isn’t going to happen

In a similar situation although paid a bit less, I would occasionally agree to swop a day if there had been plenty of notice and it was something that really couldn't happen on my working days. I did it a few times over about five years. And it's better to swop a whole day than be messing around being owed some hours which you'll never get back.

Otherwise it's important to hold the boundary otherwise you might as well be working five days. I found thinking of my non-working time as a second job made it easier. If you did have a second job you wouldn't be nearly as available.

I'm a CEO and work 4 days a week. I rigidly enforce this (am always available in emergencies) and it's important from a role modelling point of view, I do not expect my colleagues to be available on their days off either, Am flexible when really important. Guess what, everyone manages just fine with proper planning. But we encourage flexible working so are used to organising around different availabilities.
Keep those boundaries as once they're eroded, you'll never get them back

I think the key thing is that you deemed it not important enough to be worth switching days! When I was in a similar position, I would occasionally change working days when it was important but equally my work would allow me to swap when it suited me / if I needed to for any reason. Flexibility went both ways - but they are not paying you for 3 days and having their cake / your availability for 5!