Would you work part time if you could

[whitewine25]

A friend of mine's daughter works 3 days a week, lives at home but pays towards the house etc, had a burnout earlier in the year in a high stress job so has been pt now for a while, friend's parents constantly asking when is she going ft as its not right 'in their day' people worked ft at 16 and ran a home by 18, Is it ok for people to work part time and have better mental health?
Obv this yp still at home and willl need to work more to move out at some point so may not be forever.
A family friend of mine left a ft high wage job to go freelance and does 20 hours a week, and is so much happier, made some lifestyle changes and manages it now.
Does anyone here work ft but would go pt if they could?

I worked ft until I was 32 and have worked pt ever since.

I'm 52 now and hope to never return to ft work. It works for me and my family life.

Yes absolutely. I was pt but had to leave and now ft. I hate it. Working a 4 day week makes such as massive difference to everything. Life admin doesnt build up and weekends are for family and not having to shop and tidy etc as everything gets done on day 5. I miss it.
To rub it in, im now getting paid less than my part time salary so it feels like I work friday for free.

I think it depends on whether you’re expecting someone else to sub you (and if they’re happy to do so and it suits your circumstances, then fine, for example, one parent working less hours to care for young DC) or if you’re able to provide for yourself on a part time wage. If you’re dependent on someone else making up the shortfall and they’re not ok with that arrangement, then it’s not ok. Otherwise, crack on! Why not. Much nicer not to work FT. Also depends on how career minded you are as harder to progress when PT.

Mate I'd never work again if I didn't have to, and I like my job.

Soon as I'm able to safely and comfortably go part time I will be.

I mean, it’s fine. But it’s a luxury isn’t it? I’d love to go PT but I don’t think we could afford it.

I think it's fair enough if you can support yourself financially on PT hours.

If you're relying on others to support you, then it really depends on whether they're happy with the arrangement as well.

I went pt after dd was born, she’s 28 now. I currently work 22 hours over 3 days, get every Friday and Monday off, it’s bliss, It wasn’t worth my while going ft, childcare costs were wiping out anything I could earn.

I'm PT because I'm worse off FT. I'd much rather be FT as my career has come to a grinding halt.

I do 22 hours during school hours 4 days a week WFH. If I left and went FT I'd have commuting costs and wrap around care for two children. I'd also not be actually earning much more in the first place as my current salary is on a southern weighting as that was where I originally lived. FT for a similar role up here is about 4-5k pa less.

Not always.

It was a necessity for us. DC3 is disabled and the easiest way to manage all that came with their diagnosis was for me to drop to 3 days per week.

We haven't had a holiday abroad in a decade, don't currently run a car (we do live very centrally though) and we won't be able to move to a bigger house.

However it's allowed me to be present for all my DC as well as manage DC3 needs (other 2 children are now early secondary and late primary age)

We have had to make sacrifices and our choices in some respects are much more limited but it works for us.

I would work part time if I can earn the same as I earn now in a ft job. I would never want to depend on anyone else to top up my bank account though (I.e partner, benefits, etc) so I choose to work ft to be able to support myself and afford the luxuries I have.

I have worked both part time and full time and for my life I absolutely think part time is better for me, both for my family commitments and my mental health.

When I was working full time with 1 child I was spending a lot of money on childcare and was always rushing around to do school drop offs and pick ups and organising aftershock clubs and holiday clubs and do homework was so difficult.

Now I've got 3 children and am lucky enough to have found a well paid part time job (only earning slightly less than I did at full time) it's been such a game changer. I don't feel burnt out all the time, my DS had ASD so I have to do a lot of meetings with the school to try and sort out things he needs, or take time off to accompany him on school outings as the school has told me they can't keep him safe when out of the school grounds. My hours are quite flexible so I now have time to do all these things for my son and also drop off and pick up both younger children from school (without paying £300 a month in taxis to get to the after school club in time). The holiday childcare we need is limited as I don't work 5 days a week so it's easier to manage.

I recognise I'm in a privileged position to be able to do this but my mental health has improved to no end and I do think that benefits the entire family. Maybe one day I'll find another full time job (hoping to use some of my free time to retrain) but I don't feel like I'm missing out right now

I think people can do what the hell they like

Haven’t worked FT since before I had the kids (25 years ago). Youngest still in comprehensive and although I’ve gone from 12 hours pw up to 28, I’ve no intention of working ft. I do overtime as and when I’m needed though.

I’ve worked full time for the last 40 years and would love to go part time. I can’t quite afford it yet though so will have to wait another couple of years. Will definitely do so when I can though.

I would absolutely love it. I worked part time for 2/3 years when older dc were younger and now back again to full time. I would rather stay part time until youngest dc is in school but a wfh role came up which is ideal for me as it means we don't need another car and I can do pick ups. A part time wfh role would be ideal imo.

even if no kids? seems judgement if pt and no kids or in 20's

Surely it depends on whether you can support yourself?

I don't suppose that there are that many twenty somethings who are able to work part time while also being financially independent, but no judgment from me for those who are.

If they're still living at home and relying on the bank of mum and dad, then I guess it boils down to whether mum and dad want to carry on subsidising them.

Yes I can and do. 3.5 days, perfect balance :)

I’ve mostly worked FT with short periods of working 4 days at times (though usually ended up working 5 anyway) and working 4 days definitely is better for my MH and my home life. And probably would be for my DS.

The trouble is that my industry is one where you are expected to respond/ engage pretty much any time a client reaches out to you, so you end up working the same amount, but for less pay.

I think I’d like to be 4 days, if I could really ringfence the time, but can’t see it happening.

In previous high workload jobs, yes definitely, PT was desperately needed, I was exhausted.

In my current flexible and low workload wfh role, FT works well. I am at work every day but because it's not full on, I get plenty of downtime and I get to do everything I needed to on my previous days off whilst being paid FT. I have the best of both worlds.

I absolutely would. I've worked full time for 45 years and there is nothing I'd like more than to work three days a week.
but I live alone and need to save as much as possible for my retirement, I'm 63 so full time is essential.