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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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PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 30/05/2015 20:08

Plate- the deadlines thing was why I had Mondays.

Wednesday is also good. Very few interuptions from work, only ever two days at cm in a row, spaces at classes because less full (though fewer friends to meet up with).

museumum · 30/05/2015 20:09

Where I live the schools finish at lunchtime on Fridays so loads of people don't work Fridays or work a half Friday. I am a consultant and id never get enough done so I have Fridays off.
Also, my dh work finish early on a Friday so we get a nice family dinner.
And when I was three days and had both Monday and Friday off I found Monday's pretty quiet for groups/ classes/ book bugs at the library etc.

Mouthfulofquiz · 30/05/2015 20:33

I have Wednesday's and it works really well. Only ever two days of rushing around in the morning before you get another day off!

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trixymalixy · 30/05/2015 20:40

I have Fridays off but would prefer Mondays. I feel I miss out on lunches and other social stuff. Plus the bank holidays being added to your entitlement pro rata makes it much more flexible.

tassisssss · 30/05/2015 20:46

I have done both.

Monday's great for catching up at home as we often have jam-packed busy weekends and I hate doing housework at the weekend so it's often a total state by Monday. But the kids don't miss me so much if I work on a Monday as they've been with me all weekend.

And Friday's are more fun for going out with the girlies, starting the weekend early on a Thurs night. And again the it's nice to get the house all done for the weekend.

Do consider a Wed too. I do like a wee day off mid week.

AnyFucker · 30/05/2015 20:47

tass, looks like you should work Tues and Thurs

that's be great, huh ?

TheRachel · 30/05/2015 20:51

I love not working on a Monday - it gives me time to get the house organised again after the busy weekends and there's no Sunday feeling!

Jemimapuddlemuck · 30/05/2015 20:53

I take Wednesdays off, love it as it breaks up the week. I actually find I can switch off better because I know if anything comes up while I'm off it will only have to wait a day, whereas if it was a Friday I'd be worrying about things being left 3 days, or if it was Monday I'd feel like I was playing catch uP on Tues, IYKWIM. The advantage of Mon or Fri though is you can have long weekends away in the hols without taking leave but I still don't think I'd swap.

fufulina · 30/05/2015 20:54

I don't work Wednesdays. I love it. Never more than 2 days in a row for me or the DDs.

RigglinJigglin · 30/05/2015 20:59

I have Monday's off, never get the Sunday night dread then

Find that Fridays are easier to travel to work and it's a lot more relaxed in the office.

Tried a Wednesday but couldn't get into the swing of a break in the middle of the week.

Floellabenjamin · 30/05/2015 21:09

I have Mondays off because that's the only day they would give me. I would have preferred Fridays.
I like it because I don't have the dread on Sundays and I am rearing to go by Tuesday.
The house is in order- fridge stocked, tidy house, laundry done etc

Littlefish · 30/05/2015 21:12

I have Wednesdays off which I absolutely love. It means I only ever work two days in a row before having a day to catch up.

When I go back on a Thursday, it's practically Friday already!

It also means that you are only away from your ds for 2 days at a time.

WestEast · 30/05/2015 21:15

Tuesday off for me. Means when ever there is a bank holiday I get a four day weekend followed by a three day week without using additional holiday days.

Orangeanddemons · 30/05/2015 21:20

I prefer midweek. Gives you time to catch up on any bits of stuff that you didn't have time to do last weekend and can't wait until next weekend

Original poster

Plateofcrumbs · 30/05/2015 21:31

Hmm, you're all doing a good job of convincing me to consider Wednesdays!

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Mouthfulofquiz · 30/05/2015 21:52

Hooray for Wednesday!

CountingToThree · 30/05/2015 21:56

Depending on age of your child/ren, our school inset days are mainly on Mondays so would avoid having to make alternate childcare.

Also if mine are going to be ill it always seems to be a monday after a busy weekend, if you're already off this gives you time to sort cover for the rest of the week

icklekid · 30/05/2015 21:57

Slightly different perspective I choose days off as to what I wanted to do with my ds- we go to a toddler group on a thu and meet up with friends on a friday. Is there anything you enjoy doing on a mon/fri that might influence your decision? Otherwise I'd go for monday off as no Sunday night dread and everyone is happier on a Friday!

OliveCane · 30/05/2015 21:58

I would take Monday off as Friday is a chill out day anyways?

LemonYellowSun · 30/05/2015 22:08

I have Friday off. I like starting work on the same day as everyone else.

lightgreenglass · 30/05/2015 22:24

I have Tuesday off only because my boss has Tuesday off too - she also does 4 day weeks and the CM doesn't have space on Tuesday. You might find yourself being dictated by what your boss / CM can do. I like my Tuesday's at home and do feel productive on Mondays. I would definitely say mid week is best.

slightlyconfused85 · 30/05/2015 22:33

I have Mondays although it wasn't my choice just how it fitted best with work. However, it's great. Long weekend, places like town and activities and supermarket are quieter for me and dd. I would choose it again igno could.

BHMatLeave · 01/06/2015 18:41

Having previously worked 4 days with a Friday off, if I had the opportunity again I'd want a Wednesday off...

Powaqa · 01/06/2015 18:50

Wednesdays off for me, I love it/ It breaks the week up nicely. I only have to work a max of two days before a day off

cdtaylornats · 03/06/2015 18:30

I had a nice flexible employer so I had alternate Friday and Monday off - 4 day weekends and only 8 days leave for 2 weeks holiday

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