Would you rather? Working pattern

[merlinpass]

30hours per week.

Would you rather

6 hours over 5 days

Or

7.5 hours over 4 days

Reasons for your choice gets bonus points.

If you say which day you'd choose to have off and why, you automatically win.

😂

I would do the four days if I didn't need to do any school pickups. If you have to commute five days a week, as opposed to four you lose time.

When I had a really long commute, I used to take Wednesday off to break up the travelling, which I found really exhausting. Otherwise, I'd take the Monday, to recover in peace after a busy weekend.

7.5 over four days. With Weds off. It’s just brilliant only having to work two days in a row! I love my Weds off!

I did 30 over 5 days when my kids were in primary school. In practice I did 2 longer days and 3 where I could do both school runs. I'd have absolutely loved a whole day off but this made the most of time with the kids as well as minimising the costs of before and after school care.

I do 30 hours over 3 days and love it. I'm free from 5.30 on a Wednesday to 7am on a Monday and end up with 0.8 of a full time salary.

I've done it over 4 days with a Friday off since I returned to work after DC1 Mat leave. I had a period of 24.5 hours over 4 days but I don't really find the increase to 30 hours any hassle so I'd apply the same logic and I don't think you'd really feel a benefit to doing 1.5 hours less each day

it depends. Salary, and cost / time of commute.

Smallish salary, 4 days then the ratio of commute time/cost is more efficient
big fat salary money no object? same because i really would rather have a day off.
And i like that day to be Wednesday because you are never more than one day away from a day off, and public holidays aren't affected.

For now, 7.5hrs and 4 days as DC not school age yet and would have Fridays or Mondays off as I like a long weekend and being able to go away somewhere for it if we like without taking a holiday.
When DC are school age, I plan to try and do 6hrs over 5 days to allow for school runs.

Yes 🙌

I'd prefer 5 short days. I like an early dart!

If I were to do 4 days, I'd take Monday off. You'll get at least 4 days (pro rata) extra holiday then.

I do that now. 30 ish hours over 5 days. Though it can vary, some days I may work longer and then less on another day. For me, it means I don't need to worry about childcare and I can get on with things in the afternoon. Dh is usually around, so it's not always me doing the school run/with kids anyway. But I have daily tasks that need doing (we have a small farm in addition to work) and it's easier to get them done in the afternoon, rather than having to rush to do them at 5 or 6pm several days a week. Previously, I did have the Fridays off and worked 4 days, but I didn't make good use of the Friday as there's only so much you can do in one day when really I need extra time every day.

7.5 over 4 days - I do 7.5 hours over 5 days, a slightly shorter day would not be as valuable as a full day off.

I have young children so I would choose the shorter days, to save on childcare.

If I took the four day work week option, I would take Fridays off. There are so many Monday bank holidays, I would get four day holiday so often.

Unless, the job was physically taxing, then I would take Wednesday off to relax and recharge. Duvet day Wednesday!

I'd prefer 4 days, longer shifts with weekends and Wednesdays off. I used to clean the house on the Wednesday meaning I could enjoy the weekends with the dc.

7.5 over 4 days. You get a full day off/day with the children to spend quality time. 6 hours x 5 will almost feel like full time.

Wednesday is the best day in my view. Only 2 days working on the trot, don't miss out on bank holidays.

I’d do 30hrs over three days and then have four lovely work free days!!

I’d work the 5 shorter days if you have children, the 4 longer ones if not.
I’d Fridays off and have a long weekend, because working Mondays feels more productive, and I think I’d be thinking about work anyway. But I’d be fully in weekend mode on Friday.

I have done both and much preferred having a full day off. I found that when I was doing 5 short days, they gradually became longer anyway when things were busy. I felt like I didn't have any time to myself and felt much more tired doing the same number of hours over 5 days than 4 because I didn't feel I got a proper break.

Now I do 30 hours over 3 consecutive days, so I have Monday and Friday off and I love it. Yes, the working days are long but I feel like I have much more free time overall and I'm more productive at work on the days I'm there because I can see things through.

4 days

Either Weds or Monday off

More days of the feeling you don't have work the next day

Full day off

Weds you get a break midweek and never more than 2 days before a break

Mon gives you time to rest after weekend and Friday is always a nicer day to work IMO as more relaxed since almost weekend!

This is part of my hesitation around having the day off vs having more time in every day.

Darn, I should have offered maximum infinity points and awards for constructing a spreadsheet of responses and summary.

I actually should have set an AIBU with yes / no for each option but I don't know how to do that on the app

7.5 hours over four days. And definitely have a Monday off as you then don't have to use annual leave for every Monday Bank Holiday and get more choice when to take off over the course of a year.

7.5 hours, four days a week. I'm torn between Wednesday off to break up the week or Monday off for permanent long weekends which would be great for travelling to see friends and family or little breaks abroad. I'm erring towards Mondays off.

7.5 over 4 days and have Monday off due to Bank Holiday ridiculousness if you dont

Can you explain this to me in very simple terms.

Won't they just give me hours for the Monday and then take them away anyway as I'll have to use it for bank holiday?

Totally depends on your circumstances..

I've worked 5 days but shorter days to enable easier childcare situation, so I think I needed 1 hr on 3 days at afterschool club and then did school pick up on the other two days.

Now DD is 15 and pretty independant I do same hours but until 5 for 2 days, until 4 for 2 days and wangled myself the Friday afternoon off - whilst only being equivilent of 3 hours it is absolute bliss!! Once DD doesn;t need me at all I will squeeze all my hours into 4 days and have the ultimate luxury of a day to myself!! I can't wait!!