Change working hours?

[scorpiogirly]

Hi all, just looking for some advice.

I currently work 16 hours a week over 2 days. Single parent so I take my daughter to school and start work at around half 9. I then log off to pick her up at 14:50, and log back on about an hour later. To then work the rest of my hours I am working until around half 6. Flexible working from home. So all in all with the break to do school run, the working day is about 9hrs.

My manager has said that I could split my hours over 3 days if I would like which means working 5hrs and 20 mins a day. When I log off to pick my daughter up, i wouldn't have to log back on. I find after working until half 6 I am shattered.

I am torn on what to do. Any advice?

What do you do the rest of the time when your kid is at school?

seems obvious to me?

What does your dd do when you log back in once she’s home from school? It may be much better for her and yourself to be around for her after school and work school hours over 3 days. You’ll still have 2 days where you’re not working at all.

I'm also struggling to understand why this isn't a slam dunk decision.

I seriously don’t see the dilemma?! If you are set on working only 2 days then I would investigate after school club/childminder for those 2 days, but 3 shorter days seems the obvious answer?

It seems a no brainer to me and from a work POV you will probably be more productive without trying to look after your child while working too so it’s win win.

Why wouldn't you just split it over 3 days? I don't get the dilemma.

And the dilemma is... ?
Sounds like a no brainer to me, although I'd probably do it as 2 x 6 hours and 1 x 4 hour as I'd find it easier to manage. No clock watching for the odd 20 minutes.

Seems ideal to me, as its under 6 hours you don't need to take an unpaid break either.

Seems a very good offer from your employer, I'd snap their hand off.

Only question for me would be whether you could do two longer days instead during school holidays if that works better for childcare.

I did it recently when my youngest started school and now do my hours over four days instead of three. It works much better for us, I can be at pick up and drop off, no before or after school club fees etc. I did negotiate to have different term time and school holiday hours, so still do three longer days for holiday weeks to save on holiday club costs.

Thank you all for the replies. I've changed my hours now. I'm useless with making decisions but hopefully this will make life a lot easier.