Back to work - unsure what to do re hours?!

[Christmasqueenx]

Hi all 😊 in a few months I’m going back to work part-time from mat leave and wondering how is best to split my hours. I want to do 21-ish hours a week but don’t know whether it’s best to do three 7 hour days and have 2 days off per week. Or just go in every day (Mon-Fri) for approx. 4 hours? I understand everyone’s situations are different but am curious to know how other people did it and whether it worked for you or not? This is my first child.

Thank you!

I'd personally do 3 x 7 hour days and then have two days clear so you have maximum flexibility in your days off. It depends on your childcare arrangements somewhat but I would have thought three full days would be easier from that perspective too (for example, at my son's nursery, you can only do full days so it would have a huge impact on cost).

Personally I did every day. Worked well for me.

Depends on your childcare arrangements. A half day childcare is more than 'half' the price of a full day. I'd rather have 2 days off also.

I'd do 3 full days personally - means you're only doing the stress inducing nursery/work drop off run three days a week rather than 5.

Three days for sure until they go to school.

You get full days to do things with your little one and are not trying to make plans for a few short hours each day. By the time you’ve added a commute getting ready etc, your days will be pretty much gone.

I do 3 full days and I find it the perfect balance.

Three x seven hour days all the way.

What are your childcare arrangements? If nursery you might find they have more availability for full days.

I’d personally find 3 full days less hassle.

Definitely 3 full days

3x 7h days.

*Reduced time and cost of commuting
*Better able to make use of two full free days
*able to (hopefully) have every Monday off so less faff re Bank Holiday entitlements
*Nursery costs more for half days than half of a full day would cost

3 full days. Gives you a bit of flexibility to cover for childrens illness etc, although does depend on whether your childcare can support ad hoc arrangements

Bear in mind commuting time from nursery too.

If it takes you (eg) 30mins door to door between work and nursery, that's an additional hour of nursery time required each working day.

Definitely 3 days if you can! I went from full time to 20 hours per week when I returned from mat leave and do 7.5 hours Mon/Tues and 5 hours on Wed. The early finish is great on a Wednesday and I then get 2 full days to do nice things with DS and to fit in appointments etc. When DS is school age I may spread hours over 4 days but honestly can’t recommend having a day off in the week highly enough!

I did three full days and switched to five short when they started school so didn't need childcare. I worked from home then pre covid so finished at 3 and picked up at 3.10.

I work 21 hours
Two days

It’s absolutely WONDERFUL!!!

3 days works well for me.

Brilliant thank you this is so helpful. Lucky with childcare as we have lots of family around us that can help but I do want to do nursery at least once a week for socialisation. I was leaning to 5 half days but there have been great points made as to why 3 longer days are better so I will probably do this instead!

You won’t look back
I love my job
I love my precious two days off
They feel like holiday!

Can you do 3x days whilst using nursery (so that you're only paying for the childcare that you need and have two clear days to do other stuff) and then move to 5x shorter days when DC go to school?

Also depends on your job. Is is the sort of job where you will genuinely get 2x clear days or are you likely to be 'checking in' on emails and trying to do bits of work or attend meetings/calls on the days that you're not being paid? If you work, for example, 9-1 every day will you be able to switch off at 1pm or will you be trying to catch up in the evenings?

I always wanted to go p/t but I would have just done 100% of the job for 80% of the salary.

I do 21st over 3 days (Mon, Wed & Fri) - as other PP say it gives you two days to do stuff with your DC & get other things done.
Also it means if your DC is ill or when you get to school holidays you don't need as many full days off.

2x Nursery sessions a week would be better in terms of getting dc used to it - even if shorter and use a willing family member to collect a little earlier. 1x day a week means its a long time between sessions.

I vote for 3 full days...that's what I do now. Your days off are then free and you can an things.
Also it will help with childcare in school holidays, 3 full days sounds less than 5 shorter days for grandparents or will cost less in nursery fees.

I do three days and it's pretty perfect really! Feels like just the right balance.

I would second @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz One day a week can be very hard to settle them in to the routine as there is such a long gap between sessions.

@implantreplace

I work 21 hours Two days

It’s absolutely WONDERFUL!!!

Until you look at the impact on your pension/prospects for promotion etc. I know the best things in life are free, but this is going to have a big financial impact on you.