AIBU to work full-time over four days

[Apparentlyhours]

Posting partly for traffic, but also because my mother thinks I'm unreasonable.

I'm starting a new job, and I've asked to work a four day week whilst remaining full-time. Employer has agreed. I told my mother about this and she said it was a silly idea and that I wouldn't last. I personally think that having an extra day to not be at work is a good idea and would be good for my mental health. I used to have a two-hour each way commute, so it's not as if I'm not used to long days. However, maybe I'm underestimating things? My plan is as follows:

2 days in the office, 2 days from home, working 7am - 6pm (this way I can take two break of 45 minutes each, or one longer 1.5 hour break).

My commute to the office is 45 minutes each way. I have a partner, but no children or other commitments. I'd like to use my free day to do my hobby and any relax.

AIBU?

The 7am start would kill me personally.

Many Mum's do 12/14 hour shifts in healthcare over 3/4 days, so they do full time hours. Many jobs have 10+ hour shifts. So it's doable.
Declutter, eat well and have fun between shifts, which you will do if you're doing your hobby and you'll make it work.

I used to
Do 7.30-5.30 with 45 mins dinner. 37 hours classed as full time in the nhs mon-thurs. heaven!

DH used to do full-time over four days (but he had a 2 hour commute each way into London, no working from home). It sucked for the days he did it but it was SO good to have three days off each week - definitely worth it.

Just to add that I have to get the bus to do childcare for my DD at 5.45 am. The bus is full of building site workers and hospital cleaners etc. I get home around tea time, some of the same workers are on my bus. She gets home from a 7am start (on the bus at 6.20am) for school pick up, then has children to get to dance/house to run.

Those working with her do the same. It depends on your energy levels etc.

I used to do 35 hours over 3 days. Yanbu

I’d love it! If it fits with your lifestyle then do it! Personally I’d be more productive as you have condensed days but longer to see a task through rather than picking it back up the next day

I used to work 8-6pm with a 30 min lunch break x4 a week. Loved it. Didn’t notice the longer days as I was kept busy (worked in operating theatres) but loved having the extra day off during the week, it almost felt like I was working part time!

It’s a great idea my DH has just started this a few months ago we are loving having that day together whilst the kids are in school go for it

I have done this for the last 7 years .

I Work Mon & Tues 7am till 5pm
Wednesday Off and Thurs / Friday the same hours as the beginning of the week.
I started when DS was 4 and found it works extremely well for me - Can arrange appointments etc for a Wednesday ,batch cook ,catch up with domestic (& fun stuff) without having to worry about anyone else..

The longer days did take some getting used to at first but I do love only having to do two consecutive days - Boss is quite flexible so it means I also have the option of changing my days around for a long weekend without having to use my leave.

If the journey is really always 45 minutes on the two days you travel to the office, then seems ideal. The only thing you will need to be disciplined about is not being contacted on the fifth day (from a colleague who is either disrespectful, a workaholic, or bad planner, or a combination of the three).

What's it got to do with your mother anyway?
Having days off in the week is brilliant.

Hard work but definitely doable. I work a "9 day fortnight", so compressed hours and have every other Friday off. That might be an option if you're struggling to fit the hours in over 4 days.

Why would it be unreasonable if you think you can cope with such long days?

I do full time hours over four days, my partner does full time as 3x 12 hour shifts per week. It’s perfectly doable.

People are really odd about early starts, but when you don't have to organise your day around things like a school run then what time is early is entirely subjective, and all in people's heads! 7am isn't especially early, especially on home-office days! I do shift work and 6am to 2:30pm is a popular shift because it gives you so much day free, but equally I work 20 hour shifts (with midnight to 6am being on call but remaining on site, with sleeping accommodation) and it has it's advantages, both being fully up to speed with what's going on and getting lots of hours in at once, balanced by often having four non work days in a row without taking holiday.

Your plan sounds completely manageable and sensible, as long as you won't be expected to be available to take calls or attend meetings which fall on the 5th day!

@newnortherner111

If the journey is really always 45 minutes on the two days you travel to the office, then seems ideal. The only thing you will need to be disciplined about is not being contacted on the fifth day (from a colleague who is either disrespectful, a workaholic, or bad planner, or a combination of the three).

The journey should be pretty consistently 45 minutes, because the 4 day week allows me to avoid peak traffic times. I've done the commute before at similar times for about a year, so I'm pretty confident that checks out unless there's an accident. I think my employer would actually allow me to work from home full time, but I am not keen on that idea. I've been working from home every day for two years and I don't like the isolation.

For those who have done it, how hard is it to 'miss' a day? I guess this question is most relevant to those who work in an office environment. I'm pretty good at being unavailable, but I wonder how to manage coming back to 7000 emails every week.

Yanbu. I used to do this although I think my working week was shorter so the days not as long. I'm a morning person so didn't mind that and having 3 whole days off is great. If you're wfh a couple of days then it's even easier.

If you don't have kids then you don't have the issue of arriving home at bedtime as well and you finish in plenty of time to go out after work. Totally do it. The weekends feel so much less crammed.

I used to do 7-4:30 and often started at 6 to study for an hour beforehand. With a baby.

You'll get used to it.

Do it! In my previous job I did compressed hours and had every other Friday off. It was amazing! Long week ends, free time to do things. The 7am starts were not a problem once you get used to them. It was a huge perk to walk away from when I changed jobs.

@MyFloorIsLava

What's it got to do with your mother anyway? Having days off in the week is brilliant.

It's got nothing to with her I suppose, but she made me doubt myself. Other than the longer days, she seems to think it will make me undesirable for promotion because I don't want to work conventional hours.

I used to do 4 day weeks and loved having that extra day a week off! Can’t see how it’s your mum’s business what days you work as long as you’re happy with the arrangement!

Sounds like a great idea.
My husband has the option not to work fridays, he loves it during the summer months in particular.

Go for it.
Nothing to do whatever with your mum!

This a pretty standard working pattern where I work. Lots of people work a condensed week and then either have every Friday off or every other Friday.

I wouldn't consider it now I've got a child as I'd never get a chance to see him. But in your situation I can only see benefits if you think it'll work for you.

It seems odd that your mum is against it. Did she say why?

*This is a