Did you go back full time after maternity doing compressed hours?

[Everythingisfine1]

If so how did it work out for you?

im debating between going back to work doing 7.5 hours five days a week which means I’ll have more of an evening, or 9.5 and work four days a week so I’ll get a whole day with my DD but I won’t see her much after work…

I did compressed hours, 3 x really long days, but in fairness i alternated days and I went home at lunchtime to breastfeed. I definitely preferred it and had more full days with my son. It's exhausting though whichever way you do it!

Yep! It’s great. I knew that if I went back 4 days a week no one would make my role smaller, so I’d do just as much work for 80% pay.

It only works because my role is very flexible though. Often I do ‘normal’ hours, and log on when DD is asleep, or catch up during nap time on my day off/ weekends. Recently I’ve spend a tonne of time traveling for work, so I’ve gone easy on extra hours this week without feeling guilty.

If I had to be logged on 8.30-6 (or whatever 4 days in 5 works out as officially) I’d be knackered and miss her too much.

Full time compressed is tough! But the day off is worth it, especially childcare wise

Could you do 0.9 so you do 4 longer days but not quite full time?

I went back doing two 10 hour shifts (over 12 hour days including lunch and travel). it was great having more days off and cheaper commuting too. I was able to keep BF too and didn’t need to express during the day.

I could do that but I’ll still be expected to do full time work for less pay so I’d be quite resentful of that, knowing my workplace. They’re very flexible though.

I do 0.9WTE in four days and it's HARD. My job is mentally challenging though and I commute into London one day a week. DD was 2 in the summer. The day off a week is great but I am really struggling atm, have been since about August.

My job is mentally challenging too.. ah it’s so hard. I’ve got no choice but to go back full time because of finances even though I’d love to go part time so I can spend time with DD

What sectors do you work in that allow for compressed hours? Have never seen this as an option - just part and full time.

Yes, I did. 4 x 8.75 hours rather than 5 x 7 hours with a day off mid-week.
Still doing it 16 years on.

I do it, have a Monday off as it works in your favour in terms of bank hols. I start early rather than finish late.

Yes! I did. Definitely planning to continue with this arrangement for as long as it works out well. I am happy to do full time hours in 4 days, I get stuff done without distractions thanks to starting earlier and working a bit longer than my colleagues, plus with hybrid working it's not worse as I don't feel longer days when WFH. Not wasting time on travelling to the office. I get a full day with DS and get to take him to different groups, plus catch up with mum friends, play date etc. A three day weekend allows me to have time to do chores alongside good family time and mummy & son time too. It's hard sometimes as I'm senior and my job is demanding too, but I think that's more so because I start early and am busy in general, plus as always with young children sleep deprivation is real sometimes. But overall, I am happy with this arrangement.

This arrangement could work well in most jobs. Certainly in professional roles, there's no good reason for it not to work/be available.

I would do the longer day and have the full day off, personally. Your baby will likely just want to be fed, bathed and put to bed on an evening so you won't have a lot of time to spend with her anyway. You can play baby sensory classes or swimming classes or activities for your full day off and really make the most of your time together and also really make the most of the bedtime routine on your day off too. I just think you will get more out of that full day.

Plan *

I work compressed hours, doing 5 days over 4.5 so it's not quite as pressured as fitting into 4 days.

To be honest, I don't know how I could have done it if I wasn't WFH most of the time. On the days I need to go the office, I find it really difficult to get my hours in as the commute cuts down on how many hours I can fit in between the opening hours of nursery.

I do enjoy the half day with DS, but a part of me misses having the opportunity to clock off from work a little earlier to go for a meal or go for a play in the park on sunnier days etc.

There's definitely pros and cons to it.

I considered this but couldn't make it work with nursery drop off and pick up. I am usually the one doing both due to DPs job so I can't start any earlier than I do and have to finish at 5. My job is pretty flexible and I work from home a couple of days a week but I'd end up working all my evenings to catch up which I don't think is sustainable. I've ended up doing 4 days a week but 80% although yes, you do end up doing a full-time job in 4 days. If you are able to juggle the childcare and can deal with not seeing DC a lot in the 4 days you work, then could work for you.

Yes. Like PP I knew I would just end up doing the same work for less pay. I'm an early person though so used to go in super early (DP did all the nursery runs and went down to 4 days, but his job is much easier to just leave, and he doesn't really have 'extra' to do).

It sounds a bit mean but early evening when they're tired from nursery is crap anyway- they're on the verge of a tantrum, there's really no 'fun' time. I could get home early enough to do bedtime and then do whatever afterwards. And then the day off would be time to do lots of fun stuff.

My job then was pretty flexible though, I travelled a fair bit and got to set my own schedule. I think it would be even easier now lots of people do a few days from home.

I would make sure your partner does the same though. Otherwise it's easy to be seen as 'part time' and picking up more of the house slack, even though you are working FT.

Yes! I do my FT hours over 4 days, generally work 8am-5.15pm with a 30 min lunch.

Luckily I WFH now, so even with the slightly longer hours I have more free time before and after work than I did when I had a long commute.

It doesn't need to be the case that you barely see DC because of compressed hrs, you can consider working different hours on different days, shorter lunch break, wfh, there are different options. Drop offs and pick ups work really well with wfh or working normal/slightly longer hours on some days and longer on other days. You work it out with your partner too, my DH does drop offs/pick ups when I work longer hours in the office. I have actually learnt to leave work on time thanks to this, still manage to do everything (bar occasional admin or training later in the evening) so I must have been less efficient before. I never miss DS's bedtime, we share the routine with DH and I don't see why I should be taking a 20% pay cut to effectively spend an extra hour or 2 max in the evening with DS over the course of a week.

Yes - I do 10 days in 9 so have every other Friday off. The thought of doing a full week in 4 days was really off putting.

DH does the same as well though on alternate Fridays, so DC in nursery 4 days a week.

Currently 2/3 days in the office and we also try to alternate WFH days where we can so that person does drop off/pick up and the person commuting goes in early to be home for bath/bedtime etc.

What are nursery times? I do drop off at 0800, so have a bit of time in the morning. Husband does pick up at 1800. I give a quick snack, cuddle, play/story (if wfh), husband bathes and puts to bed. As they go to bed at 1930, not sure how finishing early would be beneficial. I used to work 0800-1800, now I go in later (usually wfh anyway), then my husband and I split the Friday when our child is at home. Works well for us, and as I don’t pick up, I can have the occasional beer after work!

I do 36 hours over 3 days. Bloody hard work but I regularly get 5/6 days off in a row without using annual leave. Weve also got away with 2 days nursery a week for 2 years. It's meant working a lot of weekends but saved a fortune. I love my weekdays off with my 3 year old

Yes. I've done compressed hours over 4 days for years now.

After switching my day off several times, I've settled on a Wed off and work Mon, Tue, Thurs and Fri 8.15-5.30 (30 min lunch).

I would never go back to 5 days in the office, the extra day off is totally worth tagging a bit longer onto each day.

I would also thoroughly recommend a Wednesday off. It just works beautifully. Get your two days work done, day of rest/time with dc etc. Then only two more days of work and you get the weekend.

DH and I both compressed so only pay for three days childcare.