4 Day Week

[bella1426]

Hi All, hoping to draw on some collective wisdom here! I'm currently on mat leave with my 2nd child and am considering requesting a 4 day week upon my return to work. There are some people in my office on this (I work for a large multinational) but not in my department. It's basically at the managers discretion so I've no idea whether it would be granted or not. Financially it's definitely do-able so considering putting in the request. I have some concerns about how it would work though, namely around expectations to perform the same role within 4 days, performance appraisals being negatively affected by this if I'm unable to do it etc. Anyone any experience any advice as to how they managed it and whether it was much extra hassle and I suppose most importantly if it was was it worth it. (I think yes for the extra time with the kids but trying to weight it all up at the moment)

Do it! I'd say you and your manager need to be clear about what you either cut from your role, or that what you do takes longer to get done (e.g. 8 days worth of work will not get done in a week and three days but instead will take two weeks).
I find I need to get better at saying 'no' to tasks that aren't my essential/expected work.
Have you thought about how it would work - would you work four full days or work on five days but finish early? If the former, I recommend putting what day you don't work on your email signature. That way people are always reminded that you don't work on Fridays, for example.
If you finish early then you risk missing 4pm meetings/drinks after work. But something has to give.
I reckon go for it - I am pleased I am able to work part time. Gives me that breathing space to do school pick up and generally take a breath. Life can be stressful enough - if you don't need to work full time financially then why not make things a bit easier for yourself?

A 4 day week is perfection. Not too much of a drop in pay and that extra day gives you and your family so much valuable time.

I do 4.5 days compressed into 4 - which I like because I would end up doing the extra hours anyway and this way I get the pay and annual leave for them.

It is hard for it not to end up being doing what you were doing before in less time though.

I don't see my day off as a day to do chores - I see it as my day to spend quality time with my son. I sometimes run the odd errand but I don't clean the house or anything. I recommend talking it over with your DP or DH to check that you're on the same page on what the day off is for