To ask your preferred working hours

[narcdad45]

Posting for traffic and also curious to hear from others what your preferred working hours would be if the choice was.

A: Monday to Wednesday 10am - 5pm
B: Monday to Thursday 8-4 Term time

Salary would be £1k extra for B and I'd still be entitled to annual leave

2 kids 5 & 8 and absolutely no family support and 40 minute commute each way.
Sorry don't know how to do voting.

B. All day long

8-4 every time

@Tappering yes it's £3 per week more expensive than A so totally manageable I've worked 3 days a week for the last 7 years.

B is worth it for term time.

I’m a teacher who has had a year out in a ‘proper’ job, I love the holidays. So much flexibility and I get to see lots of people. Especially useful if family is far away as you have plenty of time to see them and don’t feel like you have to fit them into a weekend or use your annual leave (rather than going abroad for example).

Definitely B so long as you can get your children to breakfast club and then get yourself to work on time.

[quote narcdad45]@Tappering yes it's £3 per week more expensive than A so totally manageable I've worked 3 days a week for the last 7 years.[/quote]
Go for B then. You'll save a fortune as you'll be able to cover the 13 weeks of school holiday without having to pay for childcare.

Definitely B

B

B

B! If you have a breakfast club that opens early enough - ours doesn't! ...
I couldn't do A at all though as the holiday clubs don't open longer than a school day round here and the early drop odd and late pick up is only about 45 mins extra.

£1K extra for 40% more hours work (10h, have I done the sums right?) seems really shit so I'd go for A.

So A is full year, B is TTO but pays £1k more?

B. I love term time only working.

@dchange

Not worth it. You will need to pay for breakfast and after school clubs. Assuming this is £5 per child, this will equate to £20 a day. Times this by 40 weeks this will cost £4000 (annually/term time). If you are getting an extra £1k annually. Then not worth it. Better to do A and pay £10 a day for only after after school which will work out to £2,000 annually.

However, does B give you career progression? Also worth considering as these kids are not forever young.

I have no idea how you've done this maths. Please explain.

B!

I do 8-2 it is great, time for a quick errand / shopping / coffee, then school pickup and then some time with the DC.

Ah so sorry I meant 9-4, 28 hours per week for B, so breakfast club drop off would be 8am, term time for Easter, Christmas and summer hols only as I still get annual leave so would use that to cover the half terms. 10 weeks term time

A 21.36 hours per week which is what I currently do and is full year with 30 days annual leave pro rata (works out about 19 days)

Last year my mum died very suddenly and unexpectedly, she'd retired 3 years ago to help with my girls during term time. She was only 67, we have no other family to help, I'm really overwhelmed with it all.

Last summer I was off on bereavement leave, this summer I saved all my annual leave and have to make up some time.

Sorry for the drip and long post, I have always had my mum to guide and advise me and feel so lost on indecisive!
Thanks for all the replies

B, I still do B even though my kids are older - perfect work - home balance, though not the greatest salary!

A.

3 days is great even if long days. 4 full days to yourself and still some of the holidays with kids.

I love doing 3 long days.

Was typing as you posted. So sorry for your loss. Do what works for you - being a working mum is not easy!

B, you’ll need wrap around both ways. But the holiday juggle is so stressful! And you’ll avoid that with B.

I’m supposed to work 8am-3.30pm M-F term time only. In reality I do a lot more, but having the holidays ‘off’ (although I often go in to work and check emails daily) is a load off my mind.

Have you factored in the extra commuting costs for B?

I’d say B. The financial advantages of either would depend on a lot of factors, but not having to sort out childcare for school holidays would save a lot of juggling. I have a flexible employer but school holidays were still an issue. I’m so sorry that your mother died. It sounds like she was a great support to you both practically and emotionally.

B

@Spermysextowel ah thank you! Your post made me well up, my mum was the best, strongest most gentle person and I miss her dearly, in a lighter note your user name made me giggle 🤣

Thank you all, I'm going to submit my application tomorrow for B, i am glad I posted 😁