What would you do? 4 days to 3 - AIBU

[mumneeds]

To consider going from 4 days to 3 days working because actually when all the figures are put in on my self assessment for the two options, due to tax implications earning more, I will only lose approx £300 a month into our bank if I drop a day.

Overall taxable income is made up of salary, savings, dividends and rent

For context I have children 9 and 7 and a husband who works full time

£75 a day. Yeh not worth it!

if you can otherwise afford to lose the money, the time is valuable

£300 is a good chunk of money. And presumably your kids are at school all day? I would stick at 4 days.

Depends on your job. I’ve worked both and prefer 3.5d per week 8hr days plus lunch. as I felt very overwhelmed trying to squeeze in all the “all staff must do” stuff like training & team meetings etc into the week plus my job as there wasn’t enough time to get it done.

It depends on your reasoning, in my opinion.

burnout or otherwise struggling with your mental health? Yes, do it for sure.

but also, if you can afford it, if it would make a huge difference to your wellbeing and yours and your family’s quality of life, and crucially if your husband is on board, just do it anyway. Life is short.

Kids are at school yes. When it’s not school holidays of course. They have 8-9 weeks off over summer.

At the minute I would be comfortable squeezing my work into 3 days. Whilst I am paid full time for the days I work, I have flexibility in my role to ensure I can take kids to school and collect also and do their clubs. i doubt work would let me go to three days to be honest but it’s just getting others opinion really… obviously if I want to pursue I will bring it up

You comment has sort of hit the nail on the head with my reasonings to consider it also and then looking at the financials wonder if it is all worth it

Can you afford to drop that money? Is it putting extra pressure on your husband to earn more. Can't he drop to 4 days so it's more equal between you? Have you considered the impact on your pension

You ask work to consider a 7 day fortnight or 4 days term time and 3 in school holidays?

Is there someone (paid less) that could pick up some of your work to show they only need you 3 days.

Why do you think they would turn it down?

Yes we can
he already does the a 9 day fortnight and earns considerably more than me so him dropping a day paid has more of an effect me dropping

Are they going to give you less work or will you be doing the same work and be super stressed and earning less?

I just think they will… I’m quite stand alone to be honest in my role within a wider division. I actually don’t think it will impact my work and I would likely argue a trial to see if it is impacted. I think the issue will be not being contactable on 2 days rather than 1…

we have an autistic son and our other son potential ADHD. Our life is extremely chaotic and can be quite stressful due to parenting battles but just life in general as we all have. I have some health issues which mean I suffer with fatigue and mentally up and down.
I am trying to look at the bigger picture of if I worked 3 days would it just take a bit of pressure off all round keeping on top of things and life. With that is a drop in money but when I worked out the figures the trade off working for £75 a day just seems not worth it.
we are in an extremely fortunate position where losing that money won’t make a difference to us day to day and it won’t need to be made up. However, still walking away from it doesn’t sit 100% right with me (just how I am!)

My work load has dropped quite considerably recently so I don’t think I will be extremely stressed. As it stands I think I could consolidate my work into 3 days and get it done and be busier in those three days rather than working four and plodding. I would prefer busier days to be honest. I also have extreme flexibility in the sense I am paid 8.45-5 but core hours 9-3 and the rest is a work around for kids. I am really fortunate with this but I have been there a long time.

And the effect on your pension? Is that going to be significant?

Why don’t you ask for 3.5 days or 2 short ones and 2 long ones as a trial? Then you are contactable for 4 days still.

Please do consider your pension too. There was a thread on here recently asking women in their 50s what they wish they had concentrated on in their 30-40s and many said Pension & Strength training. I have worked 3,3.5d and 4d over the last few years around kids and 3d was the hardest mainly because I wasn’t in Fri or Mon so longer out of the loop, I now do 3.5d and love it as o finish at 12 on Fridays as start at 8am. So often can use flexi hrs to take off Friday every 3weeks or so.