To not work FT?

[iamallastonishment92]

I’ve worked FT since college.
Even through uni at (mature student) I worker FT for a large Multi Nat.

I graduated in May after achieving a VERY high mark (really impressed with myself) but suddenly my job is feeling suffocating.
It’s monitonous, thankless and has little to no prospects.

But...the people are wonderful and I have AMAZING flexibility, good salary, security and benefits.
DH and I are TTC (and it’s not happening easily 😭) so applying for a new job doesn’t feel like an option as we don’t want to stop TTC and obviously don’t know when it’ll happen. But I’m starting to really hate spending all day every day doing this job.

DH has suggested I drop to PT (or leave) to give me some time to pursue passions (side business) before we manage TC. He thinks the stress might not be helping the TTC process and I’m inclined to agree as I’m not happy- but the thought of stopping TTC is devastating!

DH says he had years ‘off’ whilst at uni/studying to figure out what he wanted and now it’s my turn. We don’t ‘need’ the extra money. But at the same time not working FT out of choice feels odd! It’s not something that has ever been a choice for me as always needed the money.

I also have the opportunity to do my masters with a 50% discount if I do it this September!

WIBU?
WWYD in my situation?

Working part time is s much nicer lifestyle than full time. If you can afford it, why not?

Go for it - do the masters and carry on TTC. Your DH sounds lovely & supportive.

It’s such a personal decision, OP.
How is your maternity pay? It’ll be higher if you’re full time before you go off but then if money isn’t an issue, I’d be leaning towards cutting down hours.

Honestly, going part time sounds perfect. We have this idea in our heads that we need a justification to not work all hours. The modern working environment is killing people.

I know LOADS of people going part time, to try and claim some quality of life back.

I am trying to persuade my stressed out sister to do this now.

Do it!

If you can afford it then I don’t see why not!
Sounds like you deserve a bit of a break.

I went PT last year and I am also TTC - it felt a bit odd at first as I had always NEEDED to work. I’m using the extra time to try to build my own sideline business which will hopefully give us much more flexibility when (if) we have children. DH is super supportive and I contribute in other ways.

I would do it, if my employer would allow it.

Enjoy! :) xx and good luck ttc too xxx

If you can afford it and your DH is on board then do it! There's more to life than slogging away at work being unhappy if you don't need to.

No brainer - if you can afford it, do it.

Depends on maternity pay (if it's 6 months full pay for example) and also how long you've been TTC - if it's been over a year I'd just go PT, since it could take a while to get pg (although naturally I hope it happens immediately). If not I'd hang on for the mat pay!

If you can afford it, absolutely go PT! Especially with DH's support behind you! You may also find the better work-life balance helps with the TTC.

It depends on your age. If you are 25-I’d do the part-funded Masters, that’s a brilliant opportunity! You’ve got loads of time to get pregnant.

If you are 35, I’d consider going part time and focus on getting pregnant.

If I could afford to work PT I absolutely would

I went part time at 39 with no kids. It was originally out of necessity as the charity I worked for lost some funding but I think I’d struggle to go back full time now as it’s been so good for my mental health.

😭 Thank you so much for your advice!
I honestly think I just needed to hear that from impartial people!
So lovely to hear others are/have done it and found it worthwhile!

I’m 27 (but have significant issues with my cycle which GP has suggested will make it ‘harder’ (not impossible though) to conceive.
Before knowing that I would have waited a couple of years but actually now I feel the strong urge to TTC! We’ve been at it for 6 months so far with no luck (otherwise I’m in perfect helth as is DH)

I feel like the masters is a really great opportunity and something that I would have support to defer/postpone if I were Lucky enough to fall pregnant.

Also my company does have a VERY generous maternity pay (think X months full pay X months half pay. Unusual to find nowadays

I went part time four years ago, I don’t think I will ever go back to fulltime. If you can afford it do it.

Absolutely do it. I’ve been PT since having children and it’s fab.

It sounds like you’d earn good money still too so why not? You can’t take it with you!

Apart from being bored in your current role, is there any other reason to go PT? Could you not take the opportunity to find a different more fulfilling role? As a potential employer I would question why at only 27 you felt the need to go PT.

TTC, 6 months is not very long. I think it's a bit of a Red Herring and that your confused about what you want to do with the rest of your life, what would further education give you, if after completing a hard won degree all you want to do is to reduce your work rather than look at what's next.

Sorry to be a bit harsh, but you need to look beyond your current role.

Yes, I'd do it. PT is so much more civilised - less rushing around, getting into a frazzle. Just beware people who think you can do a FT workload on PT hours or you'll end up making yourself ill.

Take a good look at your pension to see how it is affected.

@franklymydearidontgivea

Firstly... I really like your username 😊
Secondly... as a potential employer how would you feel if you hired me into a new role (that did fulfil me and I wanted) but then I announced I was pregnant 2/3 months in.

If you read my OP I explain why I feel like applying for new and exciting roles isn’t really an option- I’m not prepared to stop TTC. I appreciate you’re trying to make me sound overly dramatic (6 months is long enough when it’s not happening 😭) and ‘too young’ to worry about this.

I appreciate that social shame of ‘you shouldn’t think about kids till you’re in your 30’s so your priorities are obviously wrong’ which seems to be prevailant at the moment. However, my concerns about my fertility are justified and have been discussed at length with my GP, resulting in several tests, an ultrasound and ... very few answers. So actually I do feel pretty justified in TTC now.

*I don’t think I’m infertile because I haven’t managed to conceive in 6 months- I have ongoing (long standing) issues surrounding my cycle that the NHS can’t seem to explain. For context I’ve had 2 cycles in 6 months- both of which were forced via hormone tablets

Personally I would look for a new job and not stop TTC.
Yes you probably won't get a good mat pay package if you conceive straight away, but if you can afford to drop to PT then you could save money from your FT salary to cover the shortfall. IF you conceive straight away your employer will deal with it. If you have fertility concerns you might end up putting your life on hold for years if you won't look for something new whilst TTC.

Honestly, going part time sounds perfect. We have this idea in our heads that we need a justification to not work all hours. The modern working environment is killing people

This! The culture around working in this country is ridiculous. DH and I both work full time - short commutes and I can WFH most days. One child, in nursery three days a week and we have a cleaner. Still can’t have a decent quality of life though. I’ll be going part time as soon as I can.

Go part time. I spent my 20s working intensively FT in a stressful job chasing money and honestly I'm so much happier since I went PT. The joy of being lucky enough to earn more is tp be able to cut back