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Original poster

To think Friday would be a rubbish NWD?

93 replies

newishmama · 28/02/2025 14:06

I’m on mat leave considering which two days I’d like to ask for as NWDs. One thing I have consistently noticed is that everywhere seems busy on a Friday, almost as though it’s an extra weekend day. Cafes, the local country park, and don’t get me started on supermarkets! I don’t think Monday is too much different either although I see why people ask for this off as it’s advantageous for bank holidays for many.

I am considering working M/Tu/F, with a mini weekend in the middle of the week with Wednesday and Thursday off. Does anyone do this, or a split week?

OP posts:
PiastriThePastry · 28/02/2025 14:08

Yea I have to say, Fridays do always seem pretty busy, like an added weekend day, these days. I used to work Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and absolutely loved it. Like you say, it’s like an extra mini weekend in the middle of the week. I tended to get all the boring jobs done then, so washing, cleaning, food shopping, all that, then the weekend was just free time.

VictorianChic · 28/02/2025 14:09

I like the atmosphere in work on Fridays (office job). I plan to partially retire in 2028, and hope to keep Fridays as a WD. But I think I’d like my NWDs to be consecutive and attached to the weekend.

DetectiveSleuth · 28/02/2025 14:11

I used to have Wednesday off when DS was younger and it was lovely. When he started school, I only worked during school hours (09.30-14.30) so no need for child care.

TickingAlongNicely · 28/02/2025 14:12

People chose Friday for not working in work from home to extend their weekend or to make weekend trips easier.

Starlightstarbright4 · 28/02/2025 14:12

I work on a rota … so work over 7 days but traffic is definitely better on a Monday and Friday

Sirzy · 28/02/2025 14:12

Would you be motivated to do one day? I think I would rather work wed/thurs/fri without the break in the middle

Superscientist · 28/02/2025 14:12

I had Wednesday's off and loved it!
I did a phased return from mat leave due to ill health and tried most combinations and found I couldn't work more than 3 days in a row.

TheKeatingFive · 28/02/2025 14:13

I love a Friday NWD. But it does depend on the work you do. A midweek day would be too disruptive for my job, whereas a Friday is manageable.

tedibear · 28/02/2025 14:15

Yes Friday I wld never choose for that very reason. Everywhere busy especially from about 12noon.

I've worked Monday, wed, Fri. This was gd when they were very little as never away for more than a day.

I've also done mon, thu, Fri. This was gd as was nice to have 2 days off together and if u take a Monday off ur off for 5 days 😀

More recently I've done Tues, Thurs, Fri. I especially love a Monday off. I'd never go back to working Mondays (unless FT) and I get the extra holiday allowance which is nice 😀

OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 28/02/2025 14:17

I have a Friday nwd, have also had a wednesday instead in the past. I like Fridays because it only takes one extra day taken as holiday for me to have a proper long weekend, ie taking Monday off. I used to love Wednesdays too as it would quieter at the shops.
My firm with let me flex my nwd to a different day if I want or need to, as long as my diary is accurate.

TinDogTavern · 28/02/2025 14:20

I currently work four days with no fixed NWD so I'm trying them all on for size. I'm a big fan of a Tuesday - go in, do one day, day off, then it's hump day already.

KnickerlessFlannel · 28/02/2025 14:20

I had Wednesdays off while dd's were young as it gave them a very needed chill out day in the middle of the week, in the midst of nanny/nursery days.

When dd2 went to school.i swapped to having Fridays off as every single school event seems to be on a Friday, and means I can be involved. Also feels.like we're set up for the weekend as I get shop etc done,.leaving weekend free for their activities, parties etc.

ThirdStorm · 28/02/2025 14:22

Just be mindful you might not be able to pick, your employer might have a preference due to cover levels?

Also - remember you will need to use some of your holiday to cover bank holidays if observed so non-working day being Monday or Friday means you'll have more hours to use for normal time off!

mynameiscalypso · 28/02/2025 14:23

I used to have Thursday as my NWD which I really liked. It gave me a nice run of three days but also the chance to clear things before the weekend. Also - and this clearly depends on your work - Fridays tend to be a bit slower paced at work. Lots of people seem to leave Friday afternoon for 'admin' and so I don't have many meetings or get many emails. It's an excellent day to work in my view!

ByWildLimeCat · 28/02/2025 14:24

I don’t work a Friday. Places can be a bit busy but not a patch on weekends. I like having a 3-day weekend, and if we’re ever going away for a long weekend I don’t have to take any annual leave for it. I love it!

ServantsGonnaServe · 28/02/2025 14:25

I'd recommend taking Tues/Wed off instead because it lines up better with extending your Bank Holiday weekends 😉

Even better, if you're going part time, take Monday and Friday off because then you accumulate bank holiday hours as leave rather than 'owing' the company for Bank Holiday you are forced to take off and having to use some of your leave to cover it (because they still pay you iyswim)

Doggymummar · 28/02/2025 14:25

I work MTW so I have a long weekend every week. It's great. I have been asked to do an additional day on a Friday and that's a big no from me. Will do Thursday tho.

Simplelobsterhat · 28/02/2025 14:27

I used to have Tuesday as my day off and loved it - broke the week up about, didn't really get the Sunday blues as Monday didn't seem like a proper start to the week with only one day in, and also most things are open on Tuesdays, whereas I noticed things like hairdressers often closed Monday. As you say less people off so less busy (although hardly any of my friends who were part time had same day off as me, so harder to meet up than if I'd had a Thursday or Friday when loads of people seem to be off.)

I told my boss I wanted to break work up, so not a Monday or Friday, and he picked Tuesday based on team need, but I stuck with it for over a decade with different managers / teams I til I went back full time as it suited me.

Edited to add DH worked Saturdays so we weren't often having a weekend away or anything, but if eg we had parents or in laws living far enough away to need to make a weekend of visiting I might have preferred a Friday or Monday to be able to do that without taking leave.

gingercat02 · 28/02/2025 14:32

I did W/T/F when ds was at nursery.

4 day weekend, by the time you get in on a Wednesday, everyone is looking forward to the weekend, and it's best not to work Monday if your BH are lumped into your annual leave.

Lots of people said kids settle in childcare best if they do a block rather than random days. I have no idea if that's true.

One of my friends was off mid week and found it difficult to find classes and groups to go to as these are the days most people work.

Doingmybestbut · 28/02/2025 14:39

Friday or Monday at home with kiddos:

Pros: Easy to go away for a long weekend. Your Mum friends who have also gone part time more likely to be available. For Mondays, you are not paying for nursery despite it being closed for several bank holidays. Once your child is at school, they sometimes finish term at lunch time on Fridays and end of term assemblies etc more likely to be on a Friday morning.

Cons: Harder to get part time nursery places on Mondays and Fridays. Can be nice to break up the working week. Commute is noticeably less busy on Fridays as lots of people WFH.

I’ve done a variety of things. Quite enjoyed not working at my paid job Tuesdays and Fridays.

Sunglow1921 · 28/02/2025 14:41

Can you choose whichever days you want? In my workplace the days have to be either before or after the weekend so you’ll always have a Monday or Friday off. Some of my friends didn’t have a choice and had to take the end of the week off as that was their company policy.

I have Mondays off because then I can use my ‘bank holidays’ as regular leave and take them whenever I want. In our company, if you work Mondays, your leave is pro-rata but you’re forced to take all the bank holidays off, which leaves you with fewer anual leave days if that makes sense.

Also, our nursery charges the same for Mondays, so you end up paying for bank holidays when they are closed. But I know some nurseries have a reduced rate on Mondays to reflect that, so it depends.

Bramshott · 28/02/2025 14:41

I used to like having Fridays off because a lot of my friends also worked Mon-Thu and we met up on Fridays.

Bootstoots · 28/02/2025 14:42

Consider whether there's anyone you'd like to meet up with on your days off as well. I used to work Mon/Wed/Thu which meant I was only ever missing one working day at a time so work didn't build up too much in my absence. I also had particular groups I liked to take DC to on Tuesdays and other mums with similar aged DC to meet up with on the Fridays as most I knew had that day off.

Doingmybestbut · 28/02/2025 14:43

Thinking back, I just asked my boss which days worked best for them. It was a give and take kind of work place where I tried to be flexible and they tried to be flexible for me in return.

YessicaHaircut · 28/02/2025 14:45

I went back Wed-Fri after my mat leave and really like it. Fridays are really chilled in my office so it doesn’t feel too difficult and I never get that Sunday night feeling of dread that I used to get before working on a Monday. Most places are lovely and quiet on Mondays and Tuesdays too, though I have found that lots of places are closed on Mondays now.