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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What day off? 4 day week pattern

68 replies

Yummyyummyinmytummy · 26/05/2023 21:52

I am starting to work soon part time, 4 days a week. I used to work full time forever but having two young kids and full time is not going well for us. So, it’s time for part time!

I can choose any day of the week I want to take off but I need to pick one and stick with it.

For those of you that have worked part time what would you suggest?

It can’t be a Monday as we have a key meeting on Mondays plus I will miss all bank holidays.

I am thinking either Wednesdays to break the week in two small halves or Fridays that is generally a quiet day at work and it will give me a good early start for the weekend.

YABU - Wednesday is better
YANBU - Friday is better

OP posts:
Mañanarama · 26/05/2023 22:33

I used to have Wednesdays off and loved only ever working two days in a row. But then I realised if I took Thursdays off instead, by Weds night the main part of my week was pretty much done AND one days leave on a Friday gave me a 4 day weekend. It was marvellous.

So I vote Thursdays.

(I didn’t choose Fridays as the boss bought us bacon butties and others would bring cakes in, and we usually got sent home early)

bluechameleon · 26/05/2023 22:35

I used to have Wednesdays off. It was good being there for the start and end of the week at work, I didn't feel like I missed much. And however hard/stressful work was, I never had long to get through before a break. Can't go for a long weekend, but once the kids are in school you can't do that anyway.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/05/2023 22:38

Monday is the ideal day off, as you will only get some of the banks, so will need to use some annual leave to cover the rest.

I'd take Mondays off then in that case.

Bippityboppityboo67 · 26/05/2023 22:39

I work 4 days but because I'm home 4 of those days I actually do 2 half days. Wed and Fri half days from home and full day Thurs in the office but I finish 12.30 both days works so well for me.
If I was in the office every day I would probably pick Wednesday.

Bippityboppityboo67 · 26/05/2023 22:40

That sounds very convoluted I work 5 days but 2 are half days wed and Fri. I finish by 12.30 so I feel like I'm off all day. Works for me

openstop · 26/05/2023 22:41

Wednesday. Travel is easier Mondays and fridyas

Lavender2021 · 26/05/2023 22:41

I would definitely check about Monday as you may end up using a lot of holiday to cover them. I will always keep my Monday off as I don't want to use my holiday allowance.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/05/2023 22:43

If you work 0.8 then you will get 80% of the banks. So 6 banks will he covered but two of your annual leave days will need to be kept in reserve to cover the other two.

Then this year there are 10! So you will cover 6 with your entitlement, then need to use 4x annual leave days to cover the rest.

mastertomsmum · 26/05/2023 22:43

Friday all the way from my point of view. May Bank Hols are working days in the Univ and if rostered to cover service in one of our public facing rooms they give you an extra day on top

mrsmacmc · 26/05/2023 22:46

I'm trying to work out what 4 days I would do too. Would love a Wed to break the week up however that's meeting central day for my organisation so leaning towards a Friday at the moment as our bank hol / public hol isn't added to our overall a/l balance

TheOGCCL · 26/05/2023 22:46

Wednesday. Never having to work more than two days in a row

Beachhutgirl · 26/05/2023 22:47

I used to work 4 days with Wednesday off, and loved it. I did not get so tired only doing 2 days consecutively, and things like packed lunches could be done Sunday and Wednesday. I also found that I was more likely to get chores and errands done on a Wednesday, which felt more like a work day, occasionally I took Friday instead, and found it much harder to be motivated to get on with anything useful.

Houseofpainjumparound · 26/05/2023 22:48

I work mon-thurs with a pre school and school age and find it works best.

I get bank holiday mondays "off" and any Friday bh I get pro rata hours added to my leave (not all companies do that)

I have pre schooler with me on Friday but I do click and collect and grab the shopping and still have most the day with them and doing jobs.

Personally I found it hard when I had a midweek day off as I would lose my rhythm with work and people were confused as to when I was available.

With school I use after school club twice a week and early starts to coincide with nursery

But you will find the rhythm that works for you and your family

maryberryslayers · 26/05/2023 22:54

Friday

DappledThings · 26/05/2023 22:56

Cotswoldmama · 26/05/2023 21:56

I do a 4 day week and Tuesday is my day off. I like it because it breaks the week up but also means when there's a bank holiday I get a really long weekend!

Same. It only ended up Tuesdays because of nursery availability. Don't need that now so could change to any day but I like Tuesdays for the same reasons as above.

Lapland123 · 26/05/2023 22:59

Bobbybobbins · 26/05/2023 21:59

Think it depends on kids' ages. If pre-school I would have Weds off to have a break from childcare etc. if school age I would go for Friday.

this Is the perfect set up!
breaks up the week when preschool, a break from nursery for them, and you never work more than 2 days in a row

then Friday is great when they are in school

Edinvillian · 26/05/2023 23:01

I have a Thursday, this makes Wednesday feel like a Friday and then I've only one more day of work and it's the weekend. Also means I can have a long weekend by booking off the Friday.

2chocolateoranges · 26/05/2023 23:09

i used to work Monday-Thursday. Loved a Friday off as it meant every now and then I got a long weekend off.

fridays off while mine were at school was good because assemblies, etc were normally the Friday.

Rainbowqueeen · 26/05/2023 23:11

I have Thursday’s off. I found that was the day I was most tired and grumpy so it worked best for the whole family if I did not work then. I still love it - only one day when you go back to finish off the week.

However I had flexibility to change. In your case, I’d check what days your DCs intended schools inset days and school assembly’s are on if those are days you will need to cover and ask for that day off instead.

DixonD · 26/05/2023 23:27

EsmeSusanOgg · 26/05/2023 22:06

That is what I meant, A+ pedantry but you are correct. By choosing a non-work day that has a lot of bank holidays on it, you do not have to use your pro-rated leave to have those days off..

I personally prefer to pick when my A/L is taken as much as possible. Which is why Monday, or second choice Friday is when I would pick.

Show quote history

This - I don’t work Monday OR Friday for this reason.

Sanct · 26/05/2023 23:37

WillYouDoTheFandango · 26/05/2023 22:01

I have Wednesday. It’s amazing - you only have to get through 2 days before a day off. And you can do a quick top up on the housework/washing/cooking. I love it. Plus lots of school stuff (sports days etc) at DS’ school fall on weds so I can go.

100% Wednesdays.

Fridays are generally quite a relaxed vibe anyway due to the Friday feeling so I wouldn’t take Fridays off!

KnickerlessParsons · 26/05/2023 23:45

I have Wednesdays off. It's like having an extra weekend.

Sparklehead · 27/05/2023 00:12

My vote is for Wednesdays. This is the day I have off and I love it. It doesn’t merge into a weekend, and for that reason I find it much easier to be productive with non-work tasks. My children are school aged and often school events for parents to attend fall on a Wednesday. Also, when you have bank holidays (Mondays or Fridays), if you then just take one day of a/l on a Tuesday, you get a 5-day break. Best of alll, you get a mini-Friday feeling every Tuesday, and then a full-Friday feeling with the rest of the working population every Friday!

Catsmere · 27/05/2023 00:16

Not voting, because either is reasonable, but I had Wednesdays off and loved never having to work more than two days in a row.

GU24Mum · 27/05/2023 00:18

My best pattern when I did 4 days was to have Thursday off. I could get through lots of work Mon to Weds and Friday didn't feel too bad to work as I'd just had a day off and was about to go into the weekend. I wouldn't want Monday or Tuesday as I like to feel I've at least done half the week before I have a day off.

My worst work pattern was Monday, Wednesday and Friday on a 3-day week - if I'd done that again I'd have done a single day and two together.