To ask is it really awful working on a weekend?

[workingdays]

Currently work Mon-Fri with weekends off and have done so for the last 5 months since starting my new job. I worked similar hours in previous jobs as well so it’s just what I’m use to. Due to financial reasons I believe, work have now asked me if it would be okay if they changed my working days permanently to Sun-Thurs with Fri and Sat off.

I’m not 100% happy about it and it’s definitely not ideal but I want to keep them happy and be seen as a team player.

Cons are-

1.	If I agreed to the change, if at some point down the line I wasn’t happy, I’m not sure if they would let me switch back to my original working days. 

2.	It would be a pain in the arse making plans as most of my family and friends have weekends off. Family meals etc are all usually on a Sunday so I’d miss out on things like that too. 

3.	If I wanted to take a trip anywhere I’d have to do it on a Friday and be back by Saturday but I guess I could just book annual leave (?) for things like that. It would also mean I’d have to have an early night every Saturday so I’m not shattered in work on Sunday. 

4.	Salary would stay the same (although this isn’t entirely awful as I’m paid a fairly decent wage). 

Pros are-

1.	Being able to book a dentist/hospital/drs apt (absolute nightmare if you work Mon-Fri).

2.	Being able to take my car to the garage if something goes wrong with it (my mechanic doesn’t work weekends). 

3.	Sometimes it’s nice having a day off during the week as it’s quieter (?) in town/shops as people are in work. 

I was thinking of suggesting every other Sunday as a compromise but (if I’m right) it would mean I’d have to work 6 days in a row two weeks out of the month. I’m not sure how my boss would take it if I said no to the whole thing, he could make my life very awkward for all I know.

So guys, what do you think? If you work weekends, what do you like so much about it? If you choose not to, why is that? I also don’t have any children so there is no child care aspect to worry about. Are weekends all their cut out to be? Thanks

I work Tuesday to Thursday so not a great deal of help but sis works one Saturday a.month on rota. Why do they want you to change?

Doesn't bother me

I now work Monday to Friday after years of doing shift work. I hate it! I miss having a day off in the week that I can do what I want, go shopping when it's not busy, book appointments, have me time. Now I only have weekends off and I feel I don't get a minute to myself.

So it's swings and roundabouts I guess, you might not like working the Sunday because you're used to having weekends off, but if it was me I'd love having Friday and Saturdays as my days off.

@TARSCOUT I believe it's due to financial reasons. I've heard from other colleagues it's because they want to stop using self employed contractors on weekends and instead use the employed staff to carry out the work. It's not always busy during the week so I do understand. From a business point of view it makes sense.

I also feel guilty that it might take someone's hours away from them, but what I can do about that? Not a lot unfortunately.

I work mon-sat so only have Sundays off. I don't like it I'm used to working mon-fri which is perfect imo but hey ho you do what you have to do.

I work weekends in a second job and I love it. The money is a higher rate as it’s the weekend so I’m not sure I would do it for the same weekday rate.
What are there financial reasons as it’s not actually saving them any money.?

I do a weekend day by choice and much prefer it, if breaks the week up, easier to get appointments on my day off in the week and no traffic. It's a quieter day in work too so I get loads more done

I used to work every other weekend, and I'd have every Wednesday off, so 1 week I worked 6 days but the next only 4. It suited me but it was quite easy to swap weekends if I had something on. I think in this day and age people who still work mon-fri are lucky!

I guess that's fair enough then. I suppose like everything else you will get used to it
Have to admit I do love my weekdays off more than the weekend ones. Get so much more done.

It’s ok once you get used to it. I used to work both days every other weekend, which meant that I worked 6 days one week and 4 the next.

I now work 1 weekend day a month and get a day back in the week for it. I like having the day off to myself when everyone else is at work or school as it means I can get bits done with no one around. I’m not sure I’d want to do it every week though.

Could you suggest doing 1 in 4 Sundays so you're not losing out every weekend? I think it's unfair not to give you an uplift on your salary for working a Sunday.

Would they be funny about you taking annual leave on the Sunday? I know people who work weekends and find if they request annual leave on those days their boss always tries to persuade them to take one of their weekdays instead.

I'd want some financial reward to swap is it just you they're asking?

It depends what you normally do on weekends really. I hated it when I was younger as all of my friends were going out and I was stuck at work. Now though it is great having a day off in the week, most places are quieter and if you have children, you have a day off when they are at school. I know that sounds mean, but it's surprising how much you can get done and recharge. If weekends are really important to you though then I would think carefully.

I work 4 days a week but every Saturday and Sunday. It doesn't bother me and when I use annual leave I get 9 days off for 4 days leave

When I worked weekends the main problem was that others arranged social events around weekends so you had to use annual leave for events such as weddings (with the possibility of not being able to get the day off) and curtail any Friday night events unless you wanted to feel terrible the next day. Probably wouldn't bother me as much now I've become a middle-aged recluse but it was a PITA in my relatively gregarious 20s.

Doesn't bother me. Sunday is a boring day. But I'd negotiate a pay rise for being obliging enough to change!

I wouldn't work weekends now I have DS. But before I had him I used to bartend so worked most weekends. I really liked it.

I used to work in healthcare and we were shift based, I have always absolutely detested working the weekend, especially Sundays (except Sunday night, I didn't mind them so much) but others on the team weren't bothered by weekend work. I think it's a very individual thing.

Working a weekend is not so awful, but I think it would be worth asking for extra money for working on a Sunday. Especially as they are paying far more for contractors at the moment.

And yes, make sure there is a plan if you wanted annual leave on a Sunday - because if it's essential that someone is in, then there should be a plan for when you are off, not just not allowed an annual leave day.

Regardless of being paid a good salary, you will be working unsociable hours and should have an increase in money to reflect that. They're saving money by not using contractors so there must be a budget available.
Is there any scope to change/swap days, when needed, so you don't miss out on Sunday family gatherings?

Agree with above poster who says it depends on the individual. I’m self employed and can choose my work pattern - I often work weekends as it pays more, plus I like having at least one week day off to have a bit of me time. I’d hate to go back to the Monday to Friday 9-5 slog.

Are you religious? Lots of Christians won’t work on Sunday’s for faith reasons...

I and everyone I knew were doing weekends (hospitality). It was great to have weekday to sort stuff. Go for a trip somewhere and it wasn't rammed. And it saved me ££££ on wedding as it was midweek

I don't mind working weekends but agree with PP that you should be compensated. However if sundays are traditionally your family days could you offer to work Tuesday to Saturday instead and have Sunday/Monday off?