Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Working condensed hours on 80% pay

125 replies

Notsure2023 · 06/01/2023 16:48

Recently went back after maternity leave, before I left I agreed flexible working 4 days per week. Agreed my pay would be reduced to 80%.

im in a client facing management position. My clients were changed and I was given more responsibility when I returned to work - I now have our biggest clients (not discussed with me first).

I’ve kept the same job title and I’ve not got a pay increase.

It’s becoming apparent I’m doing the same amount of work across 4 days. No one covers for me on my day off. AIBU to expect full pay?

OP posts:

DottyLittleRainbow · 06/01/2023 16:49

If you’re working the same number of hours per week but over 4 days instead of 5, you should be on 100% pay. Don’t get mugged off, speak to your manager asap.

quietlycontent · 06/01/2023 16:50

Well that is essentially what happened to me - in the end I just decided the day off with the kids was worth more than the hassle - but only you know if you can argue that you are efficient enough to get the work done in less time.

I have no reason to think you can't but it can be a hard sell

Velda · 06/01/2023 16:50

You are obviously working harder than before because you’re taking 4 days to do the work that used to take 5 days. Stop working so hard? Drop your level of effort down to what it was previously. If the issue is that your workload hasn’t been reduced to 80% then this is something to be discussed with your boss.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 06/01/2023 16:50

Are you working full time hours over four days or are you working fewer hours but managing to get five days worth of work done?

MolesOnPoles · 06/01/2023 16:52

This always happens with a 4 day week IMO. It sucks.

I condense 5 days into 4, so I get full pay. It means I do work late/ sometimes on my day off, but it’s very worth it.

I know it’s not always easy to negotiate though.

Soontobe60 · 06/01/2023 16:55

You have 2 choices - work your contracted hours and get paid for the hours you work or work your contracted hours plus some unpaid hours. The fact that you have different clients shouldn’t be a reason to work more hours. Just point out that you are only being paid for 80% full time hours so will only be doing 80% of full time work.

MilkyYay · 06/01/2023 17:03

This often happens. I think having less time to do things in actually makes you more productive in the hours you have. You ruthlessly axe stuff there's no point doing.

You can choose, to argue for more money (essentially a promotion but keeping the 4 day flexibility) or accept that you do at least get your time.

AuntieJoyce · 06/01/2023 17:07

This tends to happen less when people drop to 3 days. Four days and you’re just inconveniently not there on Fridays. Does your work off condensed hours? Some do and don’t advertise it

luxxlisbon · 06/01/2023 17:09

It’s becoming apparent I’m doing the same amount of work across 4 days. No one covers for me on my day off.

Pretty much everyone who works on project based work told me this is the case if you return for 4 days.
Sorry that’s not much help.
One girl in my office is going back to 5 because she might as well get paid for the full amount of work she is doing.
A coworker of my husband told him her advise to me was to not even consider a 4 day week.

luxxlisbon · 06/01/2023 17:12

Posted too soon.
I think really your options are work 5 days if you are working more time anyway and get paid for it. Or be very strict about your time. Make sure everyone knows you don’t work full time, clients included. Make it clear that Fridays aren’t included in turn around time so if you need 3 days to turn something around it would be Tuesday rather than Monday for example.

Doveyouknow · 06/01/2023 17:14

I think this happens a lot when you drop a day. I value the flexibility of having a day off with kids so have let the fact that I am doing a pretty much full time job on 80% pay slide. Others I know have admitted defeat and gone back to FT hrs. I don't know anyone who has really managed to do 80% of their previous role when they have dropped a day.

Dryandirriatble · 06/01/2023 17:17

Is it manageable over 4 days? If it is, won't they just argue you had too many hours before? If it's not, what actual hours are you working to get it done?

MissOldCadburys · 07/01/2023 09:27

Are you doing the same hours over 4 days?
Condensed usually means doing full time hours over 4 days, so 10 hours days would mean full pay. If you are doing 8 hour days over 4 though and not full time hours I would not expect full pay.

Hawkins001 · 07/01/2023 09:32

All the best op

SergeiL · 07/01/2023 09:36

I managed 80% over 4 days for a few years. The day off for me was worth more than the injustice! It also meant that I could switch to school hours over 5 days when the kids were a bit older. I still do the school run but am now being paid 100% and working flexibly. It got to the point where I was working more hours than the full time workers and being online later than the condensed workers who were banking all their extra time. I am not a fan of condensed hours at more senior levels unless everyone does it but given this is the situation in my team, I am happy that I am not now being paid at 80% and working 5 days whilst my colleagues get paid 100% and get a day off every week.

However, I would love to go back to having a day off each week so I would very carefully evaluate how much it means to you.

candlelightflora · 07/01/2023 09:37

This was my experience working 4 days as well, it is hard. I don’t know what the answer is, you can try and negotiate condensed hours but not all organisations will accept this. Or you can try and just stick to your hours but to be honest it’s easier said than done!

ferneytorro · 07/01/2023 09:38

When I asked my boss about dropping to four days he said well yes that’s a winner for me as my budget will decrease but your work won’t!

Tulipomania · 07/01/2023 09:39

Have your hours changed or are you working more hours per day than before?

Are they flexible about which 4 days you work?

arethereanyleftatall · 07/01/2023 09:41

This happened to me ten years ago and I wish I'd done so much better at arguing it.
Same situation. 5 days work load in 4 days, 80% pay.
My boss just said to me 'well it's your choice, if you come back 5 days you'll get paid 💯, 4 days and it's 80%'
I wanted my day with my dd so I just sucked it up, and worked my arse off for 4 days.
I wish I hadn't now. I like the idea above it just doing 80 % of the job.

Hardbackwriter · 07/01/2023 09:42

Doveyouknow · 06/01/2023 17:14

Same - I suck up the injustice because I love having Fridays off (and I really do have it as a non-working day, but it means I work long hours the other days and quite often a bit at the weekend to keep up with things). I only dropped down to 90%, though - in theory I do 4.5 days over 4, in practice I do 5 days over 4 - which lessens the sting a bit!

Adviceneeded200 · 07/01/2023 09:46

I think this is more common than we might expect.

I went to 3 days before COVID from 5 and a while set of asmin work was taken away from me. It was going to still be tight to do, but we tried it. I managed to do it...just, with a little unpaid overtime here and there.

Then someone left and its not been easy to recruit however the management haven't busted a gut to recruit or manage her work either.

It's fallen on me and one other to pick up her full time hours! Some of the work only I can do due to qualifications and because there's been very little attempt to help I crashed and burned last year and am now working my notice.

Because I do something else on my other two days I do not have the capacity to work significant amounts of unpaid overtime, or even negotiate to be paid it, as I simply don't have the time.

I met a mate recently who I.was surprised had retired. I asked why she didn't go part time first and she said because she has seen this happen time and time again. She'd end up being paid part time but working all hours sent to get the work done.

If you don't want to leave, you'll have to have the conversation because otherwise it will be never ending. Please don't end up I'll like I was.

Utahthecat · 07/01/2023 09:46

Same experience here - I also found I was working so hard when in the office I didn't have time to go for lunch/coffees with colleagues so wasn't seen as networking and was definitely considered on the "mummy track".
Condensed working, where you do say 10 days hours over 9 days works out better for some (colleagues got 1 day every 2 weeks off for example and would probably have been working the extra hours anyway) but I did really want that day off every week so I sucked it up. It was very frustrating to be working harder but paid less and be considered a part timer professionally.

Angeldelight81 · 07/01/2023 09:47

Are you able to manage your own deadlines and workload? If so, get paid for five have Friday working from home keep your phone on but basically you’re off.

arethereanyleftatall · 07/01/2023 09:49

By the end I was getting better at it, I'd send an email to boss...

'I've been asked to do x (5hoirs) and y (5 hours) by 2pm today. Can you let me know which you'd like me to prioritise please?'

HandbagsnGladrags · 07/01/2023 09:49

I've just dropped to 4 days on 80% pay so am interested in this. I doubt my workload will drop but I'm determined not to work extra hours on my working day.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5