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Original poster

Would you rather? Working pattern

113 replies

merlinpass · 23/03/2023 10:01

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.

OP posts:
Pleasegodgotosleep · 23/03/2023 19:41

7.5 x 4 Friday off.

Depends on job but for me Fridays tend to be a quieter day with a few people off or working short days, meaning it's sometimes hard to het meetings/talk yo people I need. Mondays are when we have planning meetings for the week etc, I would just miss too much and be much less productive if I was off on a Monday.

Random day off in the middle of the week has never appealed to me.

vickylou78 · 23/03/2023 20:00

Definitely go for working just 4 days. I do 30hrs over 4 days and it's great. Really appreciate a whole day off to do the housework, life admin, go shopping, do a project etc.

Shorter days the time would be wasted I think as wouldn't have time to get stuck into anything and would just get eaten up with the daily slog.

Also makes more sense to work 4 days if commuting as 1 day less commuting time and cost.

I have Mondays off and love getting the house all set for rest of the week. Also good as get bank Holidays off in lieu to use anytime I want.

CreeperBoom · 23/03/2023 20:01

I've done lots of configurations with my 30 hours. Best, imo, is:

Nursery ages kids, then 4 x 7.5 hour days, with a Wednesday off.

School age, then one mid-week 7.5 hour day (sometimes you just need a full day) then 5.5-ish the other 4, so you can do pick-up.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 23/03/2023 20:16

I'm full time but had the option of 7.5x5, or 9.5x4. I chose secret option C for 8.5x9 days a fortnight so I get the slightly shorter days but also have a day off every other week which I can use flexibly for things like inset days, dentist appointments, and also bank holidays so I don't have to use my annual leave for them

Nephthys21 · 23/03/2023 20:24

I work 30 hours and do 3 x 8.5 and 1x 4.5. Relies on my husband being available on my longer days though.

Sunshineandshowers42 · 23/03/2023 20:52

Dyslexicwonder · 23/03/2023 13:18

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.

This is pretty much what I do 😁 Monday off, Tues and Weds long days, Thurs and Fri 9-3 from home (and DH does school runs Tues and Weds so no wrap-around needed).

bridgetreilly · 23/03/2023 20:53

I work 7.5 x 4 with Friday, Sat, Sun off. There is no way I would choose to change. Three day weekends are the business.

sunflowerdaisyrose · 23/03/2023 20:54

I've done both. I much prefer a whole day off but currently work over five so I can do school drop offs and pick ups.

Original poster
merlinpass · 23/03/2023 20:59

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 23/03/2023 20:16

I'm full time but had the option of 7.5x5, or 9.5x4. I chose secret option C for 8.5x9 days a fortnight so I get the slightly shorter days but also have a day off every other week which I can use flexibly for things like inset days, dentist appointments, and also bank holidays so I don't have to use my annual leave for them

So that would be 60 hours over 9 days - how many hours a day is that?

OP posts:
Hawkins003 · 23/03/2023 21:01

6 h rs over five days , one more focused and too more time each day for extra activities,

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 23/03/2023 21:03

Just under 7 hours per day. You could do 8x6.5 hour days then a 9th day of 8 hours, or 8x7 hours then a 4 hour half day as the 9th.

BotterMon · 23/03/2023 21:03

4 days definitely and wednesdays off so only 2 days each side to work. Also only have to take 2 leave days for a nice 5 day break.

Original poster
merlinpass · 23/03/2023 21:04

Newestname002 · 23/03/2023 15:27

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. 🌹

Quite a few have mentioned Mondays as being beneficial for bank holidays - I like this idea.

OP posts:
WinterStar1 · 23/03/2023 21:08

Thedarkestblue · 23/03/2023 10:55

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!

Sounds fab .... this would be my ideal week too

JussathoB · 23/03/2023 21:12

Can I ask what kind of jobs you do, which give you the flexibility to work these hours to suit your schedule? My family is full of teachers nurses etc where you can’t really do this

AegonT · 23/03/2023 21:28

7.5 hours over 4 days no contest. Having an extra work free day is way better than finishing early. I'm not a fan of the hours between school pick-up and dinner - not worth the drop in money for that. Wrap around care/longer days at nursery and then straight home for dinner are fine (better yet if childcare feeds them).

TheEverdelightfulsamantha · 23/03/2023 21:34

I do 3 x 8 hours and 1 x 6 hours - means I do two school pick ups so I only need 3x after school club. I can only do that as DH drops the kids off so I start early though.

Original poster
merlinpass · 23/03/2023 21:54

JussathoB · 23/03/2023 21:12

Can I ask what kind of jobs you do, which give you the flexibility to work these hours to suit your schedule? My family is full of teachers nurses etc where you can’t really do this

Generally office jobs

Civil service
Local authority

OP posts:
Anothernewname13 · 23/03/2023 21:54

4 days 100%! You get an extra day off for the sake of working just over an hour extra each day

Hankunamatata · 23/03/2023 21:56

If school age kids then 6 hours over 5 days as could do 9-3 or 8-2.
If not school age then prob do 4 days with day off

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 23/03/2023 21:58

I'd work tues-fri, 7.5h per day.

Reasons

  1. If part time I'd never work a Monday as it screws with your BH entitlement
  2. If I'm working fewer hours I want to feel a fair benefit - a whole day off is a better perk to me than shorter working days
  3. Commuting time and costs reduce by cutting a day
  4. When I'm at work, I get into a rhythm. A flow. I think I'd find it odd stopping work a couple of hours before everyone else.
  5. Breaks. No breaks on a 6h shift, usually. I like a little 30mins off to look at my phone or go for a walk
nickelbabe · 23/03/2023 22:00

4 days definitely.
They're normal full-time days, and you get a whole extra day off in.the week.
I much prefer 3 days off than 2 days off with 5 shorter working days. It's just too disjointed and you never feel like you've had a break.

CreeperBoom · 23/03/2023 22:03

JussathoB · 23/03/2023 21:12

Can I ask what kind of jobs you do, which give you the flexibility to work these hours to suit your schedule? My family is full of teachers nurses etc where you can’t really do this

IT services

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 23/03/2023 22:34

I am just pondering whether to ask to compress my hours into 4 days. Very tempting indeed.

Minimooncat · 23/03/2023 22:53

I do 6 x 5 days at the moment as I have to leave at 3 to pick up kids and walk dog. However I would prefer 4 longer days and a day off without those commitments.