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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it’s ok to work 4 days a week if you don’t have kids

100 replies

letsremovethewap · 17/03/2022 22:49

I’m in my 20s, a teacher and don’t have kids, ideally I would like to have a teaching job with 0.8 hours. However people I’ve spoken to say that employers would find it weird that I’m not looking for full time work if I don’t have kids.

OP posts:

Spottybotty20 · 17/03/2022 23:54

I think it’s a great idea if it’s for work life balance and you do non work things in your time off. However I’d be really wary of catching up work on your day off.
I had a previous colleague who had a day off a week but worked the whole day (often coming in to school) and it set some strange expectations around workload. She stepped in to become head of department but continued having a day “off” each week and then expected everyone in the department to have marked as much or planned as much as she had and was basically working full time for 80% pay

Everley · 17/03/2022 23:57

I worked a 4 day week with no kids. I have a chronic health condition so it really helped me to have a day off mid-week to rest up. I sometimes felt that colleagues judged me but that’s their issue, not mine.

libby09 · 18/03/2022 00:01

I only apply for part time work because of my child but I don't ever mention the fact I have one at interviews, no one will question it or find it weird based on that.
Go for it! I think it's a better balance.

SelkieQualia · 18/03/2022 00:09

Yes to normalising part time work for whatever reason you like.

CounsellorTroi · 18/03/2022 00:15

It’s absolutely fine.

MistySkiesAfterRain · 18/03/2022 00:18

I am aiming to cut down in the next couple of years. I do get stuck between thinking maybe I need to condense my hours and not lose the pay, or should I just cut down.

Summerfun54321 · 18/03/2022 00:22

If the role is part time then great. But if you’re asking for part time work and the other candidates are asking for full time and it’s a full time role, you’ll never be their first choice. So fine in practice, but better to ask to work part time once you’ve started full time and have proved yourself.

saraclara · 18/03/2022 00:26

My DD, no kids, teaches four days a week on a P/T contract. Reducing her hours kept her in teaching. She'd have left otherwise.

SelkieQualia · 18/03/2022 00:38

I think some people can also live much more cheaply if they don't work full time - more time for meal planning and that sort of stuff.

carefullycourageous · 18/03/2022 00:47

Ignore them, loads of child free people at my work are part time, they even let child free men do it.

GreenLunchBox · 18/03/2022 01:00

Nobody does five days in my industry and four days is considered full time. How many hours is 0.8?

Whadda · 18/03/2022 01:33

As someone who is happily childfree: absolutely go for it. Sounds great!

As someone who is older than you (late 30s) and in good financial standing: your 20s and 30s are prime career, salary, and pension-building years. Do what you can to maximize your income and you’ll reap the rewards in terms of being able to retire early. Every four day week you work effectively knocks 20% off your pension.

Bromse · 18/03/2022 01:48

Four days a week is only one day short of full time and, as a teacher, you'll be doing plenty of extra anyway. I think a day off to yourself is extremely beneficial in many ways. Lots of teachers work part time so why not you.

Flittingaboutagain · 18/03/2022 02:12

I did .8 for years before kids. I loved it. I didn't end up doing a full time job and unpaid overtime. I got very good at saying I will have to get to that next week/which is the priority out of X and Y as I'm not able to do both before I finish? Realistic expectations and clear priorities is key.

ThePoint678 · 18/03/2022 02:15

Do whatever suits you.

garlictwist · 18/03/2022 02:50

I work four days a week with no kids. It gives me a better work life balance. But I had to leave my job and get a new one to do it. My old employer refused to let me change my hours because I didn't have kids, even though all the parents were allowed to be part time. It's reverse discrimination.

MissDynamite23 · 18/03/2022 03:35

Two members of my team, both men, worked 0.8 and had a day off. Neither of them did childcare on those days (although both did have children). They just had the day for themselves. I bet they didn’t second guess their choices! I’m also 0.8 (although on mat leave) but I have my DD that day.
Unfortunately for me it is a case of doing a full time job in fewer days and is constantly pressurized as a result.

Go for it if that’s what you want but be sure it won’t just make the rest of your working week unbearably busy and will genuinely benefit you. Lots of great advice on this from other posters.

Flatandhappy · 18/03/2022 04:44

Very few people in my line of work are full time, jobs are usually advertised as 3- 4 days a week as any more is seen as too stressful. Tbh I would have thought teaching would be another job where it would be best not to do full time if you can manage it.

SonicBroom · 18/03/2022 05:23

At your age you need to think what you want LT and balance it. You’ll have 20% less with which to save for a house, spend on holidays, put into pension. You’ll also find career progression may be slower, what do you want in long term from your job?

Im not sure what role you’re in but as a School teacher you get plenty of time off throughout the year, I know it’s technically not paid in some cases but being a teacher on 5 days is quite different to being someone FT with 5 weeks leave all year. I’ve done both. Essentially you’d be working 40 weeks x 4 days which is 160 days compared to non-teacher who’d normally be paid for 260 days FT or 208 PT. That’s a huge difference in take home pay, and a huge difference in lifestyle. You need to choose your priorities in LT as well as ST, financially as well as career / wellbeing.

SonicBroom · 18/03/2022 05:24

Btw my job after teaching was more stressful - big shock to system!

Oblomov22 · 18/03/2022 05:26

The 4 day week is supposed to become the norm. Google and Unilever trialled it, in Spain and NZ. I am surprised it hasn't seen a bigger response.

Oblomov22 · 18/03/2022 05:29

Bean stew: "don’t you want to progress? ... I have worked FT for 20 year ".

With attitudes like this, is it any wonder the 4 day week hasn't taken off?

Oblomov22 · 18/03/2022 05:32

Sonic: "You’ll also find career progression may be slower,".

But it shouldn't be, should it?

carefullycourageous · 18/03/2022 06:39

I don't think there is any evidence that career progression is slower.

It has not been my experience anyway.

If you go to 0.8 and want to go back to 1.0 it will usually not be that hard to find a full time role, or increase your hours. I have gone up and down in number of hours for a while.

SonicBroom · 18/03/2022 06:40

@Oblomov22 it depends on the role you have and the time you want, as it should be imo.

Btw - 4 day weeks in other countries are based on compressed hours not reduced hours. I think OP is talking about reduced hours here?

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