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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reducing hours to 4 days a week?

21 replies

VelvetSpoon · 25/05/2018 11:46

Would it be wrong of me to do this?

I have always worked ft (except for a v brief hiatus once doing a 4 day week for a few months before leaving a job, and another time when I worked away for 4 days a week for 3 months and got a day off 'in lieu' of travel time..) I'm now at a stage where I'm an associate, my DC are basically adults (17 and 19) and I can afford to work 4 days a week (in fact due to tax, etc I actually won't be much worse off as most of what I'll be losing goes in tax).

So is it wrong to ask to drop to 4 days? I don't have a reason really, other than that I'd like an extra day off a week. I am not particularly bothered about career progression as there isn't at in my current role.

I do think it might look odd but I am trying to worry less about what people think. I was considering leaving my job and taking the summer off but I think this might be a better strategy. Assuming I can get my employers to agree it of course.

WIBU to try and do this?

OP posts:
heiheithechicken · 25/05/2018 11:52

Go for it and enjoy some more time off!

englishmummyinwales · 25/05/2018 11:54

Do it! If you can afford it then why not? A friend of mine has just done this, as has her husband. They don't have children and earn enough to still live a comfortable life. They haven't looked back and feel great for it.

Millipedewithherfeetup · 25/05/2018 11:55

Nothing to lose by asking.. as long as you are not expected to fit 5 days work into 4 then go for it !

AornisHades · 25/05/2018 11:55

You might want to check what effect it will have on your pension but otherwise I can't see why you wouldn't if you can afford it. Enjoy life in the here and now!

Waitingonasmiley42 · 25/05/2018 11:55

Definitely do it! You'll never get the time back and it's worth more than money. The only thing I worry about is the impact on my pension.

79andnotout · 25/05/2018 11:56

I would love to do this if I could get away with it. We can afford it as we don't live a lavish lifestyle, and I would just love an extra day off!

Unfortunately my boss thinks part timers are wasters so there's not much hope...

Do it if you can.

TheyCanGoInTheBucket · 25/05/2018 11:58

Why wouldn't you do it?? Seriously only because you're worried about what people may think?? That's bonkers.

Seems perfectly logical to me. You don't ask, you don't get.

Parker231 · 25/05/2018 12:04

DH and I have both reduced to a 4 day week. Our DC’s are now at Uni and we want more time for ourselves as we both have full-on careers. We now have a three day weekend- it’s amazing and i recommended it to anyone who can do this.

woollyheart · 25/05/2018 12:13

I dropped to pt (also 4 days) once for a while. I found that I was still working more than ft hours but was getting paid only 4/5 salary. While most of the others in my team were doing fewer hours than me and getting full wage. Then found out that hr treated me differently (because I was ONLY pt) and I didn’t get usual treatment (e.g. statements on pension) along with other people. However, not sure they would be allowed to do that now, so it might work better these days. Check what impact will be on your holidays - it should be ok, but I think I ended up not getting any bank holidays as they were assumed to be my day off.
If you do it, make sure you really do work fewer hours in practice, and enjoy it!

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 25/05/2018 12:14

Another option to consider is a condensed week. It depends if you have set hours and how long the commute is. For example working 9-5 five days a week with a 75 min drive each way in rush hour might translate to 8-6 four days a week - however you beat the rush hour so the commute is only 45 min each way and only 4 days a week, saving an hour on the days you work and 2 and a half hours on the days you don't work. In total reduced commuting time is 6.5hrs - nearly a working day. Only helps when you have a long commute though. Alternatively just go part time and don't worry about it.

AllMYSmellySocks · 25/05/2018 12:15

Why not? As long as you won't be lumbered with 5 days of work to do over 4 days and less salary!

MereDintofPandiculation · 25/05/2018 12:17

I found two advantages 1) got things done in the day off, so weekends were completely free for enjoyment 2) became much more confident about refusing to work more than my allotted hours. I wasn't going to work 40 hours a week if I was only being paid for 30! (work ethic was that full-timers put in at least 10 hours unpaid overtime, and there was competition about how many days annual leave you hadn't managed to take because you were so busy and important)

It had relatively little effect on my pension as it was only for about 3 years at the end of a long career. But you need to do the sums and pay additional contributions if necessary.

woollyheart · 25/05/2018 12:24

Yes, I went back to ft employment, and agreed to work a more condensed week - sad suggested by **shouldwestayorshouldwego

cinders15 · 25/05/2018 12:46

I'm a contractor and in my last contract I went down from ft to 3 days a week - my employer wasn't happy and kept my workload as 5 days a week to pressure me- but I stuck to my guns and didn't respond to emails and phone calls on my days off
It was wonderful to be able to do personal things in daylight - and to have coffee with friends etc
Go for it - get a healthy work/life balance - you will feel less stressed just having an extra day! Thanks

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 25/05/2018 12:53

My pension is pretty minimal - my employers only pay whatever the lowest amount is, I am actively paying in more to top it up, and will continue to do that if I manage to reduce to 4 days.

I would be approaching it on the basis that everything would be reduced pro rata, so 4/5 of my holiday entitlement.

I already work extra hours (earlier this week I was in the office 9am-8pm, that is longer than normal but I'm often there until 6 or 7). I don't think condensed hours would be agreed. Even if it was I don't want to be in the office til 7 every night. There are some nights where I want/ need to leave on time.

OP posts:
JammyDoughnuts · 25/05/2018 13:01

OP I dropped to 4 days a week and it was the best decision!

I'm a LP and I never seemed to have a spare minute, it was so hard. Since I reduced my hours I've been so much more relaxed and much happier. I'm having to watch my spending as the pay cut isn't ideal but it's definitely worth it.

Go for it!

UserInfinityplus1 · 25/05/2018 13:05

I do 3 days a week but have a pretty decent salary and pension (public sector). I absolutely love it and never get that ‘Sunday night dread’ of going to work. I do have 2 young children but the youngest starts school in September and I definitely won’t be upping my days at work.

thedevilinablackdress · 25/05/2018 13:15

Do it. It's great. Feels odd at first but in a good way.

mumofmunchkin · 25/05/2018 13:20

Do it! But if you're part-time I would always say don't work Mondays as the way holidays are worked out, bank holidays can end up really working against you.

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 25/05/2018 18:14

I would want to have one of the midweek days (ideally Weds but Tues or Thurs would be ok too). Definitely not Monday - especially as a lot of the meetings I attend are on Mondays.

OP posts:
KioraAdora · 25/05/2018 18:15

Wednesday off is nice!

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