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’ve always had Mondays off working four days as even pro rata more bank holidays fall on a Monday so you usual ‘gain’ extra 2d annual leave to use when you like. Now I’m not constrained by younger kids I sometimes swap to take Friday off if needed and work the odd Monday.

My preference would be 2 X short days ( 6 hrs) and 2 X longdays (9.5 hrs) then DC have maximum of 2 days childcare (possibly 1 if DP can pick up1) and you still get a day off in the week. I would make your short days Friday and for work life balance have non working day Monday (as others have said for bank holiday benefits) with a long day Tuesday.

4 day week with Wednesday off. This is my schedule. It's great to have a day off mid week.

7.5 over 4 days.

What's your commute time? You'll also save that on your day off.

1.5 hours separately is far less of abenefit that a full day off. It's gone with one with one appointment.

I work 7.5 hours over 4 days. Monday is my day off. I feel Sunday has such a different feel to it when you know you don’t have to go to work the next day. However as some people have said some places aren’t open on Mondays, things like some hairdressers etc. Like a previous poster I like working Fridays. It always more relaxed and everybody’s in a good mood. Also in my office it’s always quiet.

Having a day off means I get to do the cleaning and other chores. My husband works away a lot so I feel I need a day to myself. I love going for a good walk with the dog.

That being said I am considering changing my hours and doing 6 hours over 5 days. At the moment I start work (from home) at 5:30 then use my break to take my children to school and drive to the office then finish to pick them up at 2:30. I am shattered by the evenings and end up and grumpy and stressed by the end of the weekend. I also miss having a lunch break to do my own thing and nip to the shop. My work are quite flexible so I might give it a try and swap back if I don’t like it.

I spread my hours across 5 says because I have animals to sort out at either end of the day. This means that I can see to them in daylight for most of the year.
If you are going to pick a day off I would not pick Monday as you will feel hard done by on bank Holidays. I also wouldn't choose Friday. Everyone has Fridays off so it us busy everywhere.

If I had kids in school I'd go for the full 5 days in the hope there'd be scope to be able to drop off and pick up from school (commute dependent)

I would obviously prefer to have a full day off to myself, but would put the kids first if they were in school.

No kids to think about then I'd be doing 4 days for sure.

I'd like a Friday or Monday off if doing 4 days so I could have a longer weekend.

7.5h over four days. I switched to this from 6 over five.

Work also allow me to vary my days, so a four day weekend needs zero holiday. Good for the odd recharge after a busy weekend.

7.5 hours over 4 days
I'd rather have a full day off rather then having an "extra" 1.5 hrs a day because you really wont see what you've done with that 1.5 hrs but if you've got a full day, you can always make plans.
I would have Fridays off.

I currently have primary age children so I do 30 hours over 5 days. That works best for my situation right now.

When one was still at nursery I did 4 full days. I had Mondays off which was great, but I would be happy with any day off except Friday! Possibly that makes me a bit unusual. But I like working Fridays, everyone is in a better mood and there tend to be fewer meetings so it’s easier to crack on and get stuff done.

7.5 x 4 days and Fridays off

7.5h per day over 4 days. I do this myself and I love the day off.

4 working days (7.5 hrs) would be my preference, with Friday as my day off (who doesn't love a long weekend?).

6 hour days wouldn't be that convenient for me as it's an additional commute to/from the office per week (expense plus time out of my day), an additional lunch to prepare/pack/buy out, faff of getting ready for work and looking smart ish... it screams 'inefficient use of time' to me!

A full day off is always easier for planning purposes. A spare couple of hours gets 'lost' easily and you probably won't notice the benefit as much.

The only thing that would steer me to work the 5 days/6 hours per day pattern is if I had school age children and the working hours were during school hours with an easy commute.

This is the absolute ultimate isn't it.

100% 4 days - and 7.5 hours each day. I do my hours, 26 over 3 days. Would HATE it to be 26 over 5 days. I love working 3 days, and having 4 off.

Also, less days is less travelling expenses too.

7.5 over 4 days - but it's actually 8 because working over 6 hours means I have to take a mandatory unpaid break half way through the day.

7.5hrs over four days and ensure this is in my work email business signature, plus business devices switched off to avoid "accidentally" being drawn into working on the day I'm no longer paid (with subsequent reduction in benefits).

I used to take Mondays off, used my bank holiday credits to extend my weekends and also WFH on one day so I was already home on the Thursday/Friday depending on Friday bank holidays. 🌹

I do 30 hours over 5 days as I do the school run in the mornings. I work 2 days from home so can also do the pick ups on those two days. It works for us.

For primary school run purposes I would do 3 days at 7.5 and 2 days at 3.75. I realise that's not what you asked, but saves on wraparound care and menas you can be there. If that isn't relevant then definitely 4 full days to have the day off.

I do similar - in term time I do my 0.8 FTE over 5 days with 2 "full days" (9-5) when I generally go into the office then 3 days where I do 9-2.30 at home so I can do pick up etc. Husband does drop off. In the school holidays I do 9-5 Mon-Thurs then have Fri off completely as our childminder doesn't work on Fridays. We are in SW London, I work centrally so have an hour commute each way (which I don't mind I read etc) whereas husband drives to his office in about 10 mins.

I’d do 7.5 x 4, and if you drive, do slightly odd hours like 8-4.30 so you spend less of your life sat in traffic

4 days. Mondays or Fridays off.

I have Mondays off, but you still get given the bank holiday hours (depending on what % full time you work) to spend whenever you like, because you can't be discriminated against for working part time. So I get an extra 3 days holiday, I think it works out as, because I only have to book off Good Friday and Christmas bank hols.

This year, I get an extra few hours because of the coronation and, because I don't work Mondays anyway, I get that day off but the extra few hours to use whenever.

Mondays off are best when you have young kids and need the extra AL imo.

7.5 x 4, Mondays off