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Original poster

Going down to 4 days - which day off works best?

232 replies

Nesski · 10/04/2021 08:40

I'm about to start mat leave and want to go down to 4 days a week when I go back, however, I'm not sure which day would work best. There will be a trial period to see if it would work for my company, but I'd like some insights. Friday for example is a bad day because it's delivery day (I work for a consulting firm), Wednesday's could work well because I'd start the week off with the team and be able to leave them to get on with it on Wednesday and then pick it up again until the end of the week. Monday because bank holiday usually falls on this day (these days a pro-rated).

OP posts:
Cheekyweegobshite · 10/04/2021 08:42

I have Wednesdays off. I love it because I never have to work more than 2 days in a row. Also it rarely (basically only Christmas /new year once in a blue moon) coincides with a bank holiday.

Ijumpedtheshark · 10/04/2021 08:44

I would have said Friday as that’s the day most people take off so your friends might be off then too. If that doesn’t suit you I’d say Monday to have the long weekend. I think Wednesday would make the week very disjointed but that’s just my opinion and I know people who like having Wednesday off. I don’t think Tuesday or Thursday would be great.

DDiva · 10/04/2021 08:44

I am off fridays and love it but I have done wednesdays before and found that a good day for the reasons you mentioned. Kids places and parks are often quieter in the hols too on a wed than fri .......

Original poster
Nesski · 10/04/2021 08:46

@Cheekyweegobshite better than having a long weekend you reckon?

When do children's activities typically happen at school i.e nativity plays, summer sports days etc?

OP posts:
ElectricMistofelees · 10/04/2021 08:47

Another vote for Wednesday! It means I can catch up with the family and haven’t missed them for too long, plus so many people are off on Fridays it’s good to have a day off when things are quiet. Not sure if it’s a factor but childcare is often very available on Fridays for that reason. I find Fridays a really
productive day to work as well as it is quieter and no one is too keen to start anything complicated Grin

8bitgame · 10/04/2021 08:47

Watching with interest as I am considering going to 4 days and wondering this too. I want to make sure I don't miss out on Bank Holiday allowance by picking a Monday or Friday but on the other hand a longer weekend sounds better than a day off in the week

starbrightstarlight8888 · 10/04/2021 08:48

School assemblies etc are usually Fridays here. I have Fridays off although I know you said you can't. Wednesday is a popular day to have off in my office.

grafittiartist · 10/04/2021 08:48

I always ask for a midweek day.
Wednesday is the best!
I like Fridays at work- everyone is in a better mood!
Midweek gives you chance to catch up, and a "pretend Friday feeling" in the middle of the week. Two days on, then a break.

Singlebutmarried · 10/04/2021 08:48

Wednesdays for sure.

Then when you book your May/august bank holiday weeks off you only use 3 days leave not 4.

Popfan · 10/04/2021 08:48

When I worked 4 days I had Wednesday off, it was great.

Kitkat151 · 10/04/2021 08:49

I have Mondays off....so end up with more leave to take when I want because most of the bank holidays are Mondays....if you take any other day you will end up with less annual leave as bank holiday hours are only pro rata for part time time...but you still need to take the full hours to have the bank holiday off.....

Cheekyweegobshite · 10/04/2021 08:50

For me, yes. But my cleaner comes Fridays and my shopping is delivered that day too, so the weekend is more or less clear of my most hated chores. And having Wednesdays off makes Tuesday have a Friday-is vibe for me too. Horses for courses though.

Kitkat151 · 10/04/2021 08:51

I would say Fridays is the day that school events happen though

stonebrambleboy · 10/04/2021 08:51

Definitely Wednesdays!

Subeccoo · 10/04/2021 08:51

Wednesday here, love it because I never work more than 2 days in a row!
Going back to full time in September though, that's gonna be painful Sad

KihoBebiluPute · 10/04/2021 08:51

Another vote for Wednesday's. That was great for me.

My employer was happy for me to swap my day from a Wednesday to a mon or fri occasionally for long-weekend holidays 3 or 4 times a year which was also nice.

Wonderwalk · 10/04/2021 08:52

I have Wednesdays off, I like only working 2 days at a time and Fridays are pretty relaxed at work so don’t feel it’s worth having it off. Also as mentioned Wednesdays are less busy if you want to take kids somewhere like peppa pig world etc

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 10/04/2021 08:52

Another vote for Wednesday, but see what your friends are doing.

Epwell · 10/04/2021 08:53

I did 4 days for many years and I chose Monday. The bank holidays will be added on to your holiday entitlement, so you don't miss out on these. I liked it - the work week wasn't disjointed, I got a long weekend, Friday is a natural deadline for people to work to so I didn't have to juggle deadlines too often. School events take place at random, impossible to cater for them.

Hotcuppatea · 10/04/2021 08:53

When I worked 4 days a week, Ioved having Mondays off, because I never got that Sunday night feeling. Even on a Tuesday night.

cloudjumper · 10/04/2021 08:53

I have Thursdays off - in my job, mid-week works best because we often have deadlines on Fridays, any things come in over the weekend that need to be followed up on a a Monday.

Also, I can have a 4-day weekend by just taking 1 day of annual leave, or even 5 days if there is a Bank holiday Monday Grin

Phineyj · 10/04/2021 08:54

Wednesdays are good. I have a long commute so I like the two days on, one day off. Plus as a lot of people choose Friday, it helps with staffing ratios.

Username7521 · 10/04/2021 08:54

Wednesday. It broke the week up and I looked at Friday but there weren’t many activities on Friday compared with Wednesday.

PuppyMonkey · 10/04/2021 08:54

I have Monday off, so my pro rata bank hols get added to my annual leave and I can take those days whenever I want. Also get the long weekend thing. And no dreaded Sunday night feeling.

ohidoliketobe · 10/04/2021 08:54

Another one here with a midweek day off. I have one DC at primary and one pre schooler.
I like the break in between my working week, allows me to take stock and it acts as another break from work rather than just an extension of the weekend iyswim.
At my work Fridays are more relaxed and have a flexi finish time so I was able to finish off last few bits, prep for week ahead and finish in time for school run.
In normal non-covid times, places like the zoo, soft play etc with your DC are quieter mid week than Mondays or Fridays too!