to think I would prefer to work longer days to have longer time off?

[bumbleymummy]

I would rather work longer hours for 3- 3.5 days a week just to have more consecutive days off. When I have a long weekend followed by a short week I am much more cheerful and productive. Bring in a 4 day weekend!

Yanbu! I think everyone would be a lot less stressed if this was the case. I know it definitely would in my old job!

Depends on the length of the "longer" day. I wouldn't squash my current job into 3-3.5 days, I would just be too exhausted on those days (and would still have to fit in all the stuff I do at home), and wouldn't consider days off to be sufficient compensation.

Definitely. I currently work 7 days in a row, with 8 hours per shift. It's a killer. I'd far rather do less but longer days.

Not a bit U, I used to work twelve hour days, if you managed to get all your days over a fortnight together you could get a week 'off' with your days off all together.
Loved it.
You still did the standard 37.5 hours a week over the whole month.

YANBU I used to work 12 hours shifts on a pattern that gave me 2 days off one week, and five days off the second week. It was incredible. Then they switched me to 9-5 which I thought would be nice for the shorter days, but I missed having so many days off!!!

Now I run my own business and work 60 hours a week. sigh

Yes, that's true red. I know some people work very long hours during the week. I think if you work a 35-37 hour week it would be more reasonable. I'm happy enough to work from 8-8 some days and if I knew I would have 3.5/4 days off at the end of it I think I could cope but if you had to do much longer shifts than that then I can see how it wouldn't be so nice.

Me too, but everyone would have to be on board with this including creches.

Of course it would have to accommodate child care and other responsibilities but that would be for you to take care of.

That sounds brilliant gertie and spence! It does seem like finishing at 5 should give you more time in the evenings but I just find that it doesn't at all. I'd much rather 'save' all that extra evening time off and take it all together :)

I think it would be much better in the winter time as well. You'd actually have a chance to do something in the daylight during the week!

Doesn't everyone now have the right to ask for flexible working?

Personally I'd say yabu.

Work are moving to 13 hour days. Physically hard job with lots of stress and responsibility. No chance of a break and its non stop demanding work.

People are handing their notice in left right and centre. I can't afford to but I know it will kill me.

if it became a general expected thing childcare would have to change too, is what I mean. Would very long days be suitable for kids though?

It probably wouldn't work for all jobs, Galaxy. Sorry you're being pushed into it.

Dh has flexible working, he has to do 37.5 hours from Mon to Sat between, I think, 7 to 11.

In practise its not as flexible as all that because he has to arranged meetings etc. I get cross because he accumulates hours and then won't take time off to help, although he has got better at this. He is curretly running a 60 hour deficit.

If we still had younger DC I would definitely make him use it to our advantage though.

And I work as a midwife.

Lorry drivers aren't allowed to drive for 13 hours non stop due to tiredness, etc making mistakes more likely. I don't feel I can stay on the ball for 13 hours, especially on a night shift. Its dangerous but there you go.

Raspberry, DH would do the same. Sometimes he doesn't end up using all his annual leave.

That's shocking Galaxy. :(

We get the option of condensed hours at my work, a lot of people work their FT hours (36h a week) in 4 days. It wouldn't work for me as my DH works shifts, but my hours are very flexible, so I can start at 10am so I can drop kids off at school, or I can come in early.

The problem is, though, that people are only really productive for so many hours a day. After that your energy lags.

I know sometimes I could be really struggling to get something right (I write for a living) late in the afternoon, and eventually give up and go home. The following morning it takes me about ten minutes or so to finish what I was struggling with and getting frustrated over the evening before.

I do compressed hours (5 days in 4) and it works well for us, especially as mine are both in school so I get one day to do the boring household jobs without impinging on time spent with the children. There were never any long days when we used childcare either as DH works shifts so was home either in the morning or the afternoon.

Four ten hour days and an extra weekend day would be good. Although you'd need more breaks too which would make the days even longer.

My son's work do this - they work extra time Mon-Thurs and have Friday afternoon, all day Sat and Sun off. He loves it.

My schedule is technically 4 10s, with three days off, but I typically work more than 10 hours on my work days. It's awesome, though. I do Fridays off now, but I used to do Mondays, and it was nice to do things like grocery shop and go to the doctor on weeksdays when most people are at work.

Just put in a flexible working request then...............

ACAS Guide

I want to go back to full time and I think 4x10 is ideal for me, I did it briefly when DS was 6 months before being made redundant and enjoyed it. I like having a day in the week to go to town, soft play etc when it's quiet. Also I find a standard 8 hour day isn't long enough because it's 7 hours once you've done email and admin stuff