Does anyone work 30 hours in 3 days?

[holdsl]

If so, how do you find it? I’m returning soon from mat leave and my contrasted hours are 30 hours over 4 days for the NHS. With 2 small children and a partner who works away every week Monday - Friday (so everything falls to me) this is no longer manageable for me but have had everything request declined - reduce to 3 days (22.5 hours), job share of 15 hours, asked if there were alternative roles even if it was a band lower than my current one, lastly after all those were declined I even enquired whether a small reduction to 27 hours to allow 3/3.5 days but all of which have been declined. It’s likely I’m going to end up unemployed which I’ve really been trying to avoid having worked for the NHS for 13 years. At this point, I feel they’re just going to shut anything at all down (even though colleagues have condensed hours) but i’m just wondering has anyone done 30 hours over 3 days / 3.5 days with young kids and how did you find it? It’s really more than I feel is manageable but I’m at a loss and there are no other jobs within the trust at all (finance issues apparently causing this) and no other trusts within a reasonable distance.

What are their reasons for declining the request? You have a good reason to ask for this - have you spoken to HR? They have to do their best to accommodate flexible working.

What’s your DH’s role that means he’s away Mon-Fri every week? His total in involvement is the issue here really.

They are saying the role is unable to be reduced below the current 30hrs without having significant impact on the service. HR have been involved and just side with the managers. Apparently vacancy control panel declined 15 hours post for the job share because of the financial challenges.

Is there any part of the job you could do from home? Have you escalated the request via HR / Union?

I used to do 40 hours in 4 days. You'll need to be really organised, line up everything you need to do for your three days at work, clothes, stuff etc., make sure you have easy food to stick in the oven. We used to eat the easy to cook stuff from Waitrose with prepared veg so I literally didn't have to do anything. I'm a single parent.

On your work days you need to resign yourself to the fact that all you will be able to do is sleep, work, logistics, eat and repeat.

Doable but knackering but if you have four days off each week you'll be ok.

Can you request parental leave one day a week for the first six months ? It’s unpaid but IIRK they have to consider it .

Yes I used to compressed hours.in fact I did 36 hours over 3 days. It works if you have live-in childcare or grandparents nearby. Unlikely to work if you’re relying on after school clubs or nurseries.

I used to do 1 day a week WFH. Thankfully I have parents who live 15/20 mins away and looked after my eldest 2 days a week before Mark leave and are happy to have them both for two days when I return and are generally very supportive. Even if DP was working at home I would still be looking at a job of no more than three hours while they’re both so little.

We offer a lot of flexibility and lots of people work 5 in 4, 10 in 9, half day every other Friday etc but we don't allow 30 in 3, with breaks it means 3 x 11 hour days and we don't have a business need for anyone to work 3 late nights a week. We do have some who work 30 in 4 but with a pattern where the 4th day is a short/half day.

Fwiw I do 37 hours over 4 days and so does DH, we mainly manage it by doing one 12 hour day each a week and then the others are more normal, that works because there are two of us doing it to support when the other is working the long day, but I couldn't do my current pattern if DH was away all the time. I do have to travel for work sometimes but usually for 3-4 days max so dh will do his long day on the day I'm home.

Yeah I’ve done it and actually do it now. It’s hard work but I get by. Childcare it the problem. I used to have a nanny while I was a nanny but I guess the hours were hard for her as she was always calling in sick. Now I’m a childminder and working from home so it’s not a problem. Work days I’m up at 6 start work at 7, finish work at 6.30 then it’s my kids bedtime routine and I’m sooo tired I have no evening and in bed as soon as my kids are asleep. You have no life but it’s manageable

With no support how are you going to work 10 hour days? Adding breaks and potential travel time as well as likely picking children up from school/childcare, having them at home for some working time per to having to work later in evenings.
It's not going to be sustainable or in your or your kids best interests before you even consider the impact on your ability to actually do your job.

You need a new job your current one is not compatible with your set up.

I do 30 hours over 3.5 days. I do 50% WFH.

Oof no couldn’t. But to be fair I work less than that I month

I do 28 hours in 3 days and my best friend (different employer) does 30 in 3 days. It is hard. TL:DR: it’s a recipe for burnout, especially if your DH works away and you’re also picking up everything at home during the week. I would strongly advise doing 30 hours over 4 days with a day WFH - potentially a shorter day - or looking for a different job.

You often end up working hours when there aren’t many others around so it can be harder to react to things in a timely manner or get others to respond to you quickly. The long days do mean you need quite a lot of energy as you have no wriggle room to think you’ll just come in early and pick it up the next day. You really need to think about food if you have any level of commute and taking all your meals to work, otherwise you end up grabbing unhealthy stuff or eating really late, which is bad for your digestion, especially if you’re straight into bedtime on arrival. As you don’t have time to exercise other than at weekends, it’s not great for managing weight, especially if you’re also sleep deprived.

I find it gives me a lot less flexibility if I need to leave early or come in late, in terms of making up the time. I’m also too knackered to do anything other than work on those days and I need the non-working days to keep on top of things at home.

You would need to think about the logistics of pick ups and drop offs - you’d be looking at a working day of something like 0800-1830 once you allow for the legally mandated 20-3 minute break if you work in excess of 6 hours in a day. Factor in any level of commute and basically you don’t see your children (if young) on the days you work, or you come in just as they’re going to bed.

Be aware that some public sector employers are changing WFH policies and may change goalposts for business reasons.

I’d also say that if you have two DCs, you’re probably not far off primary school and it may not be sustainable with primary school age children and a second parent not around during the week. So I’d really think about your options. Professionally, it’s much easier to work 4 shorter days. Personally, it’s much easier to be at home 2 days a week. Let me know if you find the magic answer!