Working part time

[LaurPhil]

Hi all

After some impartial advice - what would you do?

I’m 34, no kids or plans for, decent job. For the last 4 years I’ve been working part time (4 days a week). I originally reduced from 5 days for health reasons, I’ve had seizures for 7 years and the tiredness of full time work meant I was struggling to control them. It now seems well controlled by medication/lifestyle (none for 18 months) and my employer has given me the chance to go back full time.

I love being off one day in the week but OH still works full time (I still earn more) and I feel guilty having the day off in the week - also thinking long term it affects my pension (need to work for longer and I would like to retire early!) and I guess means I have to be a little more careful with money - e.g. less ‘exotic’ holidays, not such a nice car, longer mortgage. Salary is about £50k if I was full time. Been feeling really conflicted about it so wondered what thought process/reasoning others would use to come to a decision on this? On the one hand ‘there’s more to life than work’ but on the other am I shooting myself in the foot long term? Our finances are separate except for joint expenses.

Laura

Asking this question at 34 is different from asking it at age 54 or 64

You can check state pension & NI statement on www.gov.uk if you live in UK

You need 35 qualifying years to receive a full state pension

It's much easier to work FT when you are younger. Although, I see that you have had some health issues

I would also be wary about splitting up with your partner in the future. It may or may not happen.

You have a good income on 4 days, why go full time if you don’t need to. Sounds like you have a good balance in your life, you are happy and healthy.

4 days is the ideal! Most people I know without or without children would love to drop down to 4 days! That one extra day gives you so much extra freedom, plus its obviously helping your health and well being - you cant put a price on health!

I think working that amount of hours is good for your health and wellbeing and you will reap the rewards (which may be of financial benefit) in the long term.

You dropped to 4 days because, health-wise, you were struggling to cope with 5. It worked - your seizures are now under control. Why go back to something that made you ill?

Your current good health is at least partly due to your doing fewer days at work. Going back to 5 days means that you risk undoing your good work. A bit like a person with depression who feels better when taking antidepressants, and then decides to stop - he doesn’t need them any more; he feels better!

Changing what is currently working might be ok, but it might not. If I t is something you feel you want to do (rather than should do), can you talk with your employer about doing it on a trial basis? Maybe offer to step up on a temporary basis for 3 months or 6 months, with the option to drop back if you need to. Being seizure-free is not something to risk lightly. Are you able to drive, for example?

Your guilt is misplaced.

What a brilliant position to be in (slightly envious but ultimately happy for you)

I know for a fact that if I were in your shoes I'd stick to the 4 day week (this will soon be the norm with AI and automation) and devote my spare time to either a passion project or a potential new business that might bring in more revenue than your day job

If you have everything already on 4 days a week including better health, why would you work more?

Make the money work harder but no point having a nicer car, when your car is already nice.

Pay extra to pension if worthwhile for you by making a cutback somewhere else.

No point saving for pension after working a hard unhealthy 30 years, only to drop dead because of decades of ill heath.

Also look at all your costs, on your part time salary with no kids and sharing 50% of household bills with your partner, you should be living very well.

I agree with most- stick to 4 days. I do 4 days, initially because I have 2 kids and wanted a day with them. But have no intention of going back to 5 when they are both in school. I have a health condition and need to look after myself.
I also earn more than my partner and so won't feel guilty for having that extra time. It benefits us both in the sense that I can use some of that time to do life admin and other errands so that our weekends can stay just for fun

Could you go for 0.9 FTE? Would be so nice to have a half day on Friday!

You dropped to 4 days because, health-wise, you were struggling to cope with 5. It worked - your seizures are now under control. Why go back to something that made you ill?

this ^
It's not like you can be struggling for money. You are on a very good salary, and don't have the drain on your finances that you would if you have dc. It would be daft to go up to FT, IMO.

Thanks so much everyone, I've had a lot of these thoughts myself. Some of my friends are also pulling away from me, either getting promotions (unwritten expectation to work F/T if I progressed any further) or earning more by virtue of working full time but so far this doesn't seem to be having much of an effect - and most have or will be having children. Just have to get over the 'keeping up with the Joneses' mindset - don't think I'll get to 60 and think 'I wish I had worked more'

I'm glad there's a sort of consensus of opinions, there's no way of knowing what effect going back full time might have (I have to get up at 5:45 for work so 0.9 FTE wouldn't really offer any benefit to me, although a trial is a good idea). I haven't been able to drive for the last 7 years, I have been legally been able to drive for 6 months but I'm going to wait until I've had 2 years seizure free.