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!

It depends on how do-able the job is within the hrs - I technically work and am paid 2 days but foolishly work far more!

My boss never seems to remember I am part time either and always suggests times for meetings on days that I don't work

Last point - I find it hard to take annual leave working 2 days as it's then so long until I'm next in and I don't have slack in the hrs I work to catch up but that's down to a heavy workload

I agree that it depends on the job. I work in a job where you’re assigned projects for clients. Assigning a project to anyone on less than 4 days is tough unless they’re mega experienced and organised. Those on 2 days a week are just used a floating resource to help out those leading projects. They always hate it as there’s no autonomy or ownership.

Would your job be doable in 2 days a week?

I used to do mon , tue full day ,then till noon wed. Worked well .

I do two days, but they are 12 hour days. Works well for me.

I used to work 3 days and now work 2.5 days. I preferred 3 days to be honest. I struggle to get my work completed and often end up working over.

For me 2 days would be too short a time in work. By the time I'd caught up on the emails from the previous week's non working days I would be finishing again and get nothing done. Also, 5 days seems like a long time to be away from the workplace and missing out ln comms/updates etc.

It really does depend on the nature of your job though.

I recently changed from two full days (total 16 hours - Tuesday and Thursday), to three short days (15 hours). I changed to fit around school times, and actually now work fewer hours over three days than I did over 2 days.

I loved working two days, and never really felt like I had a job. It was brilliant. I now get paid less for working fewer hours over three days but it feels like I’ve worked, if you know what I mean.

If you wanted to be more present at work, you could always reduce your hours on the three days you are in work, rather than cut to two days?

When working two days, I always felt like I HAD to get everything finished. Now I can leave it until the next day.

It obviously depends on the job you do and what arrangements your other colleagues have.

I currently work three days (but over four days, so I finish early afternoon, I changed to that last year to preserve my sanity and get some time in daylight to go for walks, etc).
Offered a two day a week role earlier today - really looking forward to it.
I had been thinking I could do the two roles alongside each other for a bit, but I was out in the sunshine this afternoon when the call came through... nope, two days a week it is!

@MrsNutNutsmarriedaphilanderer

My boss never seems to remember I am part time either and always suggests times for meetings on days that I don't work

Oh, yes, all the time! If not meetings, calls before the end of my week with half a dozen tasks to complete.... New job definitely welcome

I worked 3 days a week, Monday to Wednesday, when the dc were little and it was perfect. I was there enough to be in a routine and get work done, but still had more days at home than work. I was still able to change roles pursue my interests workwise.

Dc are now 7 and 9 and I work 4 days - this is good too and I have more disposable income and a day off while they're in school.

I have colleagues who work 2 days and they say it's not enough to get on top of work. It is hard to arrange meetings and keep everything within 2 days and people kind of forgot about them. A lot of us are part time but 3 or 4 days is the norm and 2 is just tricky. However these colleagues are semi retired so phasing out of the workplace.

It does depend on so many factors though.

thanks for all the responses.

due to bank holiday monday I worked a 2 day week this week! It did feel a bit too intense for my liking (having to get everything sorted out before I leave for the week) but I would expect my boss to reduce my workload down pro-rata if I were on a permanent 2 day pattern. I would not find it fair to have super intense days whilst full time colleagues get away with being less efficient.

Yes it's very annoying working intensively on the days I work (and extra) when I have a colleague who is paid fulltime who definitely doesn't pull pull her weight. When I'm working I don't tend to do the social coffees / lunches that the staff working more hrs have time for either. Our line manager should really sort out that I do too much and she gets away with too little.
I do like the fact I don't always have to work on the other days though & it makes school hols easier to manage while I still have primary aged kids.

I used to work three days, now have cut down to two days but start earlier and finish later. Blooming love it.

I only work one day and I love it

Pros are tonnes of time for hobbies friends and exercise. I'm still fat tho

All housework is done in week so family time can be fun

Downsides

Annual leave allowance is shocking
Money is low but dh is a good earner
I miss out on some team events
I always feel
Slightly vulnerable at work. Like they wouldn't miss me.

As an employer i have to add this. My employees work back to back to ensure work is done. 3 days on 3 days off. It is their choice. However when one has a problem they often cry off. No good for me as i need someone to cover. I have been in this situation before myself and often had to pick up the flack.

So you're asking if you are unreasonable to work 2 days a week? It's a massive "depends" from me. Do you expect your lifestyle to be paid from your work, your partner or the state? My answer also depends on whether you are able to work and if there are any other circumstances to be taken into account?
My own personal circumstance is that I work full time (or more than) but I'm happy and confident in my decision to do so.

I went from 5 to 2 days a week. I am trying to find a one day job I can do to work 3 days.
I don’t think it makes much difference physically as you have 4 days off instead of 5 but financially it makes a massive difference.

I think it depends on the job. What is it?

I am NHS and there are lots of part-time people. It would be difficult to fit everything in on less than three days in the role I do. We have lots of mandatory training and the weekly team meeting can often take a whole morning.

I agree it depends on what job you're doing.

We have a lot of part-time staff where I work (some on two days per week). We have a caseload of patients and often end up with our own caseload and that of the part-timers as they are not there to chase things up. It really doesn't work somewhere like that.

When I worked on a ward (fast-paced admission ward, patients constantly being admitted and transferred/discharged, so not like a rehab ward where you would hope to have good continuity of care from the same staff), we had staff who worked two (very long) days and that was fine.

I work 2 days per week (PA, job share). Its lovely being around for my youngest and all I can currently do due to childcare - but I really struggle to get all of the work done in those two days, I would love to get involved in other areas of work (Comms mainly) and have been told I can but I literally don't have the time to, which is very frustrating. I often find myself logging back in once the kids are in bed and on the weekend to finish things off. I want to progress (frankly I hate being a PA) and feel I will only do this by increasing my hours once the littlest one can start pre school next year...

I did 2 days for a while but was self employed. I didn’t like it because I couldn’t get enough done. It was also really frustrating when there was someone off sick or have a day off either the nanny or one of the kids and it fell on my days as I’d find I would go for 2 weeks and not have done any work and be behind.

My colleagues used to job share a full time job so I've worked M-Tu and one Th-F and they alternated Wednesdays. That would work for me. The Wednesday off would feel extra special

I found 2 days great for home life but hard for my work life. I felt like I couldn't get things done. Catching up from emails and stuff from off days and booking work for the next week left little time to progress what I was doing that week. Also if you ve not got hold of someone for a decision on those days it is almost a whole week before you can try again. It does depend on your role how well it works I think and what your priority is in life at the time. At the time being at home outweighed the issues at work for me.

how do you lot afford to work 2/3 days a week but still want to eat out/holidays abroad/eat healthy/days and weekends away

are you all dependant on being financially supported by your husbands ?