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’d find out if everyone has been asked to do this and if there was any flexibility to work every other rather than every Sunday.

I work Monday to Friday in my day job, then most weekends at my second and third jobs. It never bothered me because DH worked with me at weekends and then shift work the rest of the time, we had to plan our days out in advance but we managed. I quite like having something to do at weekends to be honest. I think if I wasn't on my own, or I had small children that I couldn't take with me to the weekend job I might have had a different opinion though.

No @60sPony not religious, just a creature of habit I think lol.

I absolutely hate money conversations, it's so awkward. I feel because I've only been in the job for 5 months I can't ask for a pay rise yet. Ideally I would like to stay this way but I'm worried he may make my life awkward if I I say no.

I’ve worked Saturdays for 16 years. It’s ok. It’s a day we don’t have to worry about childcare as dh is off. Given the choice I wouldn’t, but I don’t have much choice really!

I wont ever work weekends again, I did aged 15-22 and hated it, I missed so much with friends etc. I'm 29 and I have kids now so definitely wont now as I wouldn't miss my time with them but even without I wouldn't work weekend. Everyone is different though

I work in retail so have to do one weekend day every week. I work Saturdays as DH is self employed & his only day off is Sunday. It’s bit of a pain sometimes but I can always try to swap shifts if I want a weekend off. I also quite like having 2 week days off ( I only work 16 hours over 4 days).

I work in healthcare so have to work weekends. In general I don’t mind being at work at a weekend. It’s a more relaxed atmosphere and it’s fine once you’re there. But then I only work one weekend in 4 at the moment.
When I came back off mat leave I worked every weekend to keep childcare costs down. I lasted 4 months before I changed my hours, I hated that I hardly saw DH and we didn’t get chance to do much as a family. Also the grind of everyone else celebrating the start of the weekend when I was just gearing up for work was rough. Personally I wouldn’t be willing to work every Sunday. I’d miss out on family time too much.

I work Saturday's and absolutely hate it! It's one of the main reasons I'm looking for a new job. I would advise anyone against working weekends if they can avoid it.
I haven't had a single Saturday off in over a year because it's the one day everyone wants of so booking annual leave is a nightmare.

I worked weekends for years and hated it. I wouldn't go back to it now unless I had no choice and I would definitely expect to be compensated for it! Don't let them take advantage OP.

HI OP,
I think you should approach it by telling your boss you are willing to work your "fair share" of weekends. That would mean everyone is asked to do some on a rota basis and you will cover your share. They may well be trying to dump this on you because you are new and might not like to say no (I bet others already have said no in the past). Does your boss work any weekends for example?

I believe Sunday working isn't compulsory unless it is in your contract due to the religious angle so lots of firms encourage it with incentives. I work in care and Sunday pay is time and a half. There is usually always someone willing to pick up the day with the extra pay. Are they willing to offer a Sunday premium?

A day off during the week is good and sometimes the atmosphere at work is more relaxed at the weekend. I wouldn’t agree to working every Sunday at basic rate though.

I hated working weekends. It was fine occasionally but I did it every weekend for years and it contributed to me having a bit a of a mental breakdown and getting signed off work.

It had a huge impact on my marriage because we rarely ever saw each other. I only ever got a weekend day off when I used my annual leave and after a while, it sucked. Big time.

I'm now self-employed and while I do work some weekends it's definitely not every weekend and it's only for an hour or two.

They might make you redundant if you don't change. And they may give you notice and force you to change anyway.

I would negotiate for alternate weekend Saturday and Sunday.Having no complete weekends off makes a lot of things difficult.Having days off in the week is nice though.

I agree that I'd be asking about better pay, because even paying you slightly more for sunday working, they'd be saving £££ by not paying contractor rates. Personally, I wouldn't be working a weekend without extra pay! Are they only asking you or others also? Is it an option to do just 1 per month and others do their share too?
Another consideration is your commute. Depending where you live and how you commute, weekends tend to be quieter travel wise. BUT, if you reply on public transport, there are often longer waits for trains/buses and sometimes none at all!
Again, depending on the sector (retail/hospitality for example) weekends might end up being much busier than mon-fri. On the other hand, it can be much quieter and rather nice.

When I was young, free and single it was no big deal, but married and with DC I absolutely hated it. Moved jobs twice (nursing) in order to specifically have a job with no weekend or bank holiday working.

That is my worry @ilovepixie - it's a shame because I have bent over backwards since starting and have already worked my fair share of weekends etc. I have been very accommodating. I feel like I have no choice in the matter really.

My dh works most weekends including evenings, and a lot of evenings during the week. It gets very tired after a while.

I hated it. I spent 8 years having to work a Saturday. When they changed my position I then had to work every Sunday instead for 5 years.
I’m now in a new place and love my weekends off, unfortunately DC is now a moody teen & won’t go out with us so I feel I’ve missed out on the best years being able to spend weekends with him.

@trinklesminkle - you must be exhausted working 6 days a week

I've gone from working Monday - Thursday to working every weekend with a Friday off and 1 random day off Monday - Thursday.
The Monday to Thursday was perfect for work life balance and kept me in my job after maternity but I work in retail sales so this was quiet time so didn't make a huge amount of commision.
Since changing I don't spend as much time with DH as he's off weekends but I get a full day with my son every Friday and a afternoon to myself if I need it on my other day off (DS nursery, pay for 4 days but only use 3 as my other day off rotates) but the massive positive is I get paid almost double as weekends are busy at my work and my DH gets 1to1 time with DS on Saturdays and Sundays.
I would not give up weekends off if I wasn't getting paid more though!

I hated working weekends....I wouldn't go back to working every one.

Howe about a compromise, one week Mon-Friday, the following Sunday-Thursday.

Depends on your job I guess but I’m my work weekends are generally easier days and I LOVE having a weekday off to catch up with things.

I work in healthcare, doing every other weekend at the moment as well as a couple of week days - it works well as DH can do childcare so cheaper. It can be a pain organising things with family and friends though, and it's not easy to get time off e.g. for a friend's wedding in the summer that falls on a work weekend. I also wonder if it will be less good once children start school.

This weekend I've been away with DH's family, which felt much more like hard work than my usual shift would have been!

Could you do Mon - Fri then Sun - Thurs so still a 10 day fortnight one week you get a one day weekend, the next a three day weekend?