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Original poster

4 day working week - best day not to work

69 replies

Plateofcrumbs · 30/05/2015 16:04

We've had the 3 day week thread, how about working a 4 day week?

I'm returning to work after ML soon on a 4 day basis. Baby will be with childminder all 4 days. Which day would you pick to have as your non-working day? It's between Monday and Friday in my mind.

I feel like taking Monday rather than Friday off would mean I always feel like I'm playing catch-up at work with everyone else one day ahead of me (even though it should make no difference really). But Mondays off give you the flexibility to take the Monday bank holiday days as annual leave at a time to suit you, which is a definite bonus.

Fridays are typically a more relaxed day in the office, and working Friday there is probably less pressure to stay late. There's always the option of finishing work over the weekend to meet any Monday deadlines (and most deadlines don't fall in Monday's anyway) if you work Friday. Whereas if you don't work Friday, Thursday evening might be a bit frantic for end-of-week deadlines.

Fridays off has the lovely feeling of starting the weekend early and an opportunity to get life in order ahead of the weekend 'proper'. Whereas tacking Monday onto the weekend doesn't have quite the same appeal, you've got that 'Sunday feeling' spoiling your day off.

I'm torn, help me!

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timeforacheckup · 30/05/2015 16:30

I have Wednesdays off which I love as it means I only ever work two days in a row! If I had to choose between Mon and Fri off I would definitely go for Fridays - would feel like more of a treat finishing the week a day early rather than start a day late!

weebarra · 30/05/2015 16:32

DCs in my area have a half day on a Friday so a Friday would be the obvious choice.

coffeeandchoc · 30/05/2015 16:35

Check how your company work out your annual leave entitlement. I use to have Fridays off but switched to Mondays because of this. My amount of annual leave each year increased by about a week when I switched to Mondays off. And you may be grateful for all the annual leave you can get as I have found that most of mine is used for child care coverage.

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stargazer2030 · 30/05/2015 16:47

I have not worked both over the years and much prefer taking Mondays off. I tend to have a big tidy up after the weekend and get any jobs done. If you need to get any shopping done nowhere is too busy (Friday's seem to be as bad as Saturdays). Workwise it doesnt make much difference but i do prefer the atmosphere on a Friday. Everyone's in a good mood - seems more relaxed and I find I can get my head down and finish things off. Mondays seem much more depressing at work.

Original poster

Plateofcrumbs · 30/05/2015 16:49

coffee my work place will prorata bank holidays. But by my reckoning it's only the 3 Monday bank hols that really make a difference (May and August). Good Friday and Easter Monday kind of cancel each other out and the Christmas holidays I would need/want to take anyway regardless of the day they fall on. So working Fridays would give me 3 days (ish) more AL to take at a time to suit me, which is a definite bonus. But not sure if it is the clincher.

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AnyFucker · 30/05/2015 16:56

I take Monday off

No Sunday evening/Monday morning dread and Fridays are more chilled to work

KneesOfTheBee · 30/05/2015 17:01

Definitely Monday for the same reasons as AF.

We're often out socialising on a Sunday and it would be lovely to think I had the next day off work.

Also - cake days at work are always on a Friday!

AnyFucker · 30/05/2015 17:05

and chippy days

Kbear · 30/05/2015 17:23

I have Fridays off - I do the food shopping, get the washing done mostly apart from the last bits of school uniform, go shopping if I want, clothes or whatever, bit of housework to show willing!.... maybe.... get ready for Friday night if I'm going out.... lovely!

KillmeNow · 30/05/2015 17:34

If it had to be either Monday or Friday I would opt for Friday.It would be good to get one jump ahead for the weekend- all shopping done etc .Also if it is a bank holiday weekend you have an even shorter week than everyone else- well, except for Good Friday of course.

But I would rather have a wednesday off as that gives only 2 days in a row to work - and only 2 days annual leave gives you a 5 day break . Good enough for short trip away without eating into your main holiday allowance.

Original poster

Plateofcrumbs · 30/05/2015 17:36

I'm the main provider of cake so cake day is when I decree

I'm starting to think the likelihood of Friday deadlines could be the clincher - either having a frantic Thursday myself or having other people contact me on my day off. On Monday I think most issues could normally wait one extra day til I'm in the office.

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Original poster

Plateofcrumbs · 30/05/2015 17:44

killmenow any day of the week would give you the option of a 5 day break with 2 days' leave.

I don't think Wednesday off would suit me - my job can be quite hard to switch off from and I think I would have more difficulty staying away from email etc on a Wednesday.

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Original poster

Plateofcrumbs · 30/05/2015 17:46

The benefit of a Wednesday though is DS only needing 2 days in a row with the childminder, which might be less tiring for him.

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AnyFucker · 30/05/2015 19:29

my job is hard to switch off from too

I need a good 3 days off in a row to start to feel human again (and stop the rehearsals/replays going on in my head)

BestIsWest · 30/05/2015 19:38

I had Fridays off when DS was small and it was great though I did find it kind of just rolled into the weekend.

Now I have Wednesdays off and I love it. Agree with PP that it breaks up the week brilliantly. My manager is fairly flexible so if I want to switch it to another day I can, and If he needs me in on another day I do that too. Monday was my original choice but is our busiest day so I was turned down.

Friday is definitely more relaxed in our office, dress down day etc so is a nice day to be in.

BestIsWest · 30/05/2015 19:39

I do check my emails though before I go in on a Thursday.

PickledOnionSoup · 30/05/2015 19:40

Wednesday's are a good day to have off. That's the day I used to have off before I went back to work full time. I soooo wish I was part time again

RedandYellow24 · 30/05/2015 19:42

It shouldn't matter if you take a Monday or Friday where bank holidays are concerned you should get 8 days on 5 days so 4 days still gives you 6.4 bank holidays. They are not for people who just work Monday's!

Nellagain · 30/05/2015 19:44

I have Mondays off. Mainly because the house is a shit tip after the weekend so I have a fighting chance of it looking habitable before I go back to work.
However if you lime to go away for weekends or have a social life then Friday is good.

I work 3 days and have wednseday off - I don't like it as I have stuff started on Tuesday that I spend Wednesday mulling about so don't feel the benefit of the day off. It suits work but not me.

lljkk · 30/05/2015 19:55

Traffic tends to be worst on a Friday, trains are overcrowded as well.

andadietcoke · 30/05/2015 19:57

I would take Mondays. I stopped working LTFT because I spent Fridays working because work continued without me and people had questions. I think if it had been Monday the weekend would have created some distance.

DoItTooJulia · 30/05/2015 19:59

I have Friday off. And often wonder about whether Mondays would be better.

I don't know!

AnythingNotEverything · 30/05/2015 19:59

I've had Mo days off recently. It's lovely to have a day alone (without DH and the older DCs at least) to catch up after the weekend, but as the first work period after maternity leave the Tues-Friday period is a bit of a squeeze. I find if its not done by Monday bedtime it has to wait until Friday night.

A friend has Wednesday's off, and that gives her chance to catch up midweek so life doesn't feel so hectic in the week. I think I'd try that next time.

OhOneOhTwoOhThree · 30/05/2015 20:04

I work a nine day fortnight, with every second Wednesday off. I WFH the alternate Wednesday. For me, it breaks up the commuting, which I find quite tiring.

AnyFucker · 30/05/2015 20:05

I find traffic much better on a Friday. Monday morning traffic is bloody awful !

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