To want to work only 2 days a week?

[sophie5418]

I'm currently working part time 3 days a week (8 hours a day) after dropping down from 5 days in a busy role. I am grateful for this but still worried that 3 days will be too much as I have a lot going on.

I have searched all over the internet and can't find much discussion on 2 days vs 3 days. It seems like most mumsnetters work at least 3 days and general consensus seems to be that 3 days is a good balance.

Would love to hear any thoughts on 2 days vs 3, is 2 days much better than 3 etc, and whether I am being overly worried as 3 days is already good. My boss will have a heart attack if I ask to drop another day, so it will be a hard battle if I want to go that route!

Don’t have a huge amount of advice, but I work three days (Mon/Tues/Weds) that way I have the majority of bank holidays off too and on those weeks work two days - obviously this is a part of my annual leave allowance though.
Could that be a good compromise?

I did 2 days for several years. It was great from many points of view but it was difficult to actually get my job done plus the mandatory training each year and annual leave. I also found I did miss out on feeling a part of the team at times.

I guess it depends on many factors. It was amazing having so much free time though.

I do 2.5 days and thoroughly recommend it

I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays but part time so 8-12. I have a meeting every other week on Wednesdays (charitable organization) and then I have every Friday off. I love it.

I have a colleague who works 2 days, while she’s very good Idc what hours she does. She always feels behind and like she can’t keep up work wise.

I do 2 and a half days per week (18.5 hours). Do 1 half day and 2 full days and I love it, highly recommend 😃

Would having 3 non work week days and 2 weekend days free Vs 2 of each make a big difference to how you feel? Will it make a big enough difference to how much you have going on compared to the drop in income?
If you think it's right for you and you are okay financially with dropping to 2 days then why not?

I think it depends on the job you do. I worked 2 days a week on a project for about 6 months and really enjoyed it. I'd go home on a Tuesday evening and know I wasn't back in work until the next Monday. But i was working on a project that wasn't really time pressured, so I knew I could leave stuff to pick up the next week with no issue. It was a pain trying to schedule meetings though as I could only do one of 2 days.

I work in a different role now and do 3 days a week. It's a completely different role and I wouldn't be able to leave a lot of stuff for that length of time without any follow up, so if I worked less than 3 days a week I think I'd be constantly passing things on to colleagues to follow up when I was off.

After having my first son I worked 4 days a week, then when I had my second I worked 2 days a week. My MIL had the children on those 2 days I worked and it really suited us all.

I do 2.5 days and I find it quite hard to keep on top of things as each week it takes ages to catch up on what I’ve missed and gain momentum in what I’m doing. In terms of home life it’s brilliant but the money is not.

I think it very much depends on your job. If it's something that is covered while you are off ie retail assistant then I think 2 days can work well. If its a job where you have your own work or their is ownership of your work then even 3 days is difficult.

If you can afford to do two days, then do it and if your organisation is supportive.

I will so though we have part timers in my team who do 4 days, 3 days and 2 days. The lady who does 2 days jobshare finds it so hard to get stuff done cos everything moves so fast at our place that she's always out of step...and she moans...and moans...and moans about it nonstop, it is so draining on the rest of us.

I work two days a week and it’s great - I do long days so two days is 0.5 full time hours. It means I really look forward to work and it stays a bit of a novelty, I’m always the one at work with the most energy and enthusiasm!

At the moment we are super busy at work with barely time to eat lunch, and at home I have a 1 and a 2 year old - I find I can just about power through 2 days, but three would be a bit much and I think I’d probably stop enjoying it.

I do plan to increase to 3 or more days once both kids are at school though, I really enjoy work and I think to get promotions and progress in my job I need to work a bit more than 2 days a week.

The way I look at it is if you work 2 days, work is not the main priority of your life, where it is with 3 days plus.
If you have other goals, commitments, priorities etc, it leaves time for these.
You could always change jobs if your boss doesn't like it, do what you need to.

How will reducing your hours affect your pension, is this something you have considered looking to the future?

I do 2.5 days to fit around school runs. I love the time off but find it hard to keep up with what's going on at work. I would rather do 3 days tbh. But I think if I had a job I could 'leave at work' I'd love it.

I have just cut down from 4 to 2 days and it is bliss! I couldn’t care less about being part of the team (although I get on with everybody well) I still feel as though I am. I would highly recommend it!!

Having had 2dsys/week in my team I'd say 3 days/week is the min we want. Less just isn't worth having - by the time you've taken annual leave, training, maybe some sick leave &/or carers leave it feels like they're never in work.
They never fit into the team & it feels like they're just showing up for the pay cheque.

I do 2.5 days and I love it. However I find it hard to keep on top of things and feel I miss out when I’m not there. I would definitely stick to the 3, 2 days is not a lot really. Plus the money/pension contributions will be slightly more.

How much can you have going on that takes precedence over what is already a very part time job at 3 days a week?

I do 2.5 days and it's a bit of a struggle. I'm a line manager but I now have a much smaller team so it's easier than a big one. I have five direct reports.

Have you considered working fewer hours each day, if that's a possibility? It might make it easier to stay up to speed with things at work. I work four hours per day five days per week, so 20 hours a week. It works really well for me, as I do all the school runs and I also have a bit of spare time each day.

I do 2 x 12 hour shifts so a bit different but it is the best work life balance for me. Sometimes it feels like I'm hardly in work. Occasionally can be annoying because I get emails at home but I can't deal with them for a few days and it hasn't helped my experience but realistically at this phase of life when I have toddlers it works best for our family. Childcare is very very rarely an issue. When the kids are both in school I'll still have about 35 years to work and can easy up my hours if I want to! Plus I do have the privilege of taking on extra shifts if I ever want to.

Would it be better to take a career break if you have a lot happening at the moment. Maybe that might help you to concentrate on home for a year ot few years. Then you could go back on 3. Colleagues have told me that it is hard to keep up with circulars, training etc even on 3.