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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you’d go part time if it was an option?

97 replies

Salarymallory · 01/04/2021 07:09

If you’re full time, and we’re given the choice of going to 60% ie three days a week, would you take it? Pro rata salary BUT the actual financial impact wouldn’t be 40% reduction but actually only 20%.

So in a nutshell
60% of full time hours. Two days off a week.
Reduction in income of 20% and it doesn’t have any financial negative effect on your life at all.

Would you say yes
Or do you enjoy full time?

OP posts:
burritofan · 01/04/2021 07:10

Wouldn’t most people? Work is boring, I do it for the money. I can afford the 20% hit and could do loads with two days to myself.

sjfjsnfkdhsbd · 01/04/2021 07:11

Yup.

FTMF30 · 01/04/2021 07:12

If the salary was decent in the first place and/or I could afford to live on the reduced hours, I absolutely would.

Life isn't all about work, even if it's a great career.

angelopal · 01/04/2021 07:12

Yes. I worked full time after DC1 and then 4 days after DC2. Would do 3 days if I could but not possible just now. Don't ever want to go back to full time.

ZaraW · 01/04/2021 07:13

Of course it would be great to do that, but with Covid I'm happy to have a well paid job.

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 01/04/2021 07:14

Yes. I went part time to 80% and do have to be firm about not ending up doing a full time position for 20% less pay, if I could have dropped 2 days for the 80% money I’d have jumped at it! In my case it was for childcare, but even without children a couple of days off in the week would be lovely.

Stuffin · 01/04/2021 07:16

No. I could go part time now but I want to retire early which means work a full week but for less years.

echt · 01/04/2021 07:16

I'm a teacher and on the wrong side of 65, gone to three days this year

Blood marvellous.

Mummadeze · 01/04/2021 07:16

No. Not now. I am 47 and I don’t think it would be good for my career. I would still like to progress to the next level up. If I was in my early 60s I would like the idea of this.

Throwntothewolves · 01/04/2021 07:22

Though I love my job, I have seriously thought about it before due to health and childcare. I'm glad I didn't though as DH became really unwell with depression and has struggled to work consistently since, if I'd have reduced my income it could have been a real problem. Also there's my pension, which is excellent. In recent times Covid has meant part timers are at greater risk of being made redundant, depending on their job role.
My aim now is to retire early.

So a lot to consider. But if you can do it while retaining financial and job security, go for it.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 01/04/2021 07:28

i really enjoy my job but Gods I'm tired. I'd definitely go part time. I can't afford to.

LongIslandIcedT · 01/04/2021 07:29

I've been part time since DC2 was born 8yrs ago and now I've gone full time, especially since WFH. It was daft not to seeing as I'm home anyway. If I have to go back to an office, I might go PT again.

HamFisted · 01/04/2021 07:30

Wouldn't it affect your pension?

Chasingsquirrels · 01/04/2021 07:30

I am/have.
I dropped to 3 days (21.5 hrs) after ds1 was born and have done various combinations since - 3 full days, 1 full & 3 part days, 3 part days (18 hours), 4 part days (20 hours), and now 4 part days (24) hours.
Full time at my work is now 7.75h/p/d so my 24 is 61%.
Ds1 is now 18.5, ds2 is 15.
I won't be working full time again if I don't need to financially, which I don't foresee being necessary.
I do however work longer hours at busier times, I'm effectively full time in Dec & Jan. I book thus as TOIL and take it back when I'm not so busy.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 01/04/2021 07:33

Would depend on level of outgoings and savings and not relying on someone else sharing the bills. Also, would it affect future prospects.

fireplaceburning · 01/04/2021 07:33

I'm 3 days a week and love it.
In my 40s, still have children who need me around so gives me time to do both. Only time I wanted to work full time was lockdown as was having to do full time hours for 3 days pay as work was crazy

DuggyOnDown · 01/04/2021 07:34

Is there really anyone who wouldn't?

BendingSpoons · 01/04/2021 07:35

Definitely. I work 3 days and it's a good balance. I have recently done some extra days and work dominates far more. I enjoy my job (mostly) but I enjoy that I have more days not working.

DublinDoris2000 · 01/04/2021 07:39

After returning to work after mat leave I worked 3 days, then 4 days in a consultant/ professional job. Financially it was okay, once you consider tax/travel/lunch/ childcare. But I definitely felt a bit sidelined from important projects on three days a week and career progression would have been slower. Four days a week was a great balance of more time at home but not being put on the mum-track at work.

amymel2016 · 01/04/2021 07:40

I went part time (5 days to 3.5) but found I was still doing the same amount of work for less money. So I now work full time but compressed hours, I do 3 long days and make up any extra hours in the evenings, it works for me as I get 2 days with my children but also get paid a full wage.

Lightsabre · 01/04/2021 07:45

I like the idea of this but as pp have said be careful that you won't have a full time workload in part time hours. I also prioritise my pension so would have to think carefully about this - might be good for a few years whilst children are in primary school for example.

zzzebra · 01/04/2021 07:45

I've gone from 5 to 4 days in all my previous jobs. At all of them I've ended up just doing 5days of work over 4days by doing an extra hour or 2 a day.

So same amount of work and less pay. But I didn't really mind that as it's still a day off a week.

But recently I went from 5 days to 3 days, and ended up going up to 4 days. It just wasn't possible to do the work in 3 days and I ended up online on my days off.

BigPaperBag · 01/04/2021 07:45

I’m 39 and plan to go part time when we pay off the mortgage which should be in 14 years 🤞🤞I’d like to do 3 days and then gradually reduce down before retiring at 60-63. No way am I working til 68!

Dustyhedge · 01/04/2021 07:47

I did 3 days and it was hard to feel like you were constantly failing. 3 days doing a full time job is not that fun tbh.

IamNotDarling · 01/04/2021 07:48

Nope, wouldn’t go part time but I do compressed hours. I was part time for 6 months and I ended up working unpaid hours so moved back to full time hours.