Best days to work returning from MAT leave

[Username1233]

I will be returning from MAT leave shortly and have the option which days I come back to work. It will be 3 days one week, and 4 days the next (so every other Saturday, the Saturday is not optional). What would be the best 3 working days to return? My shift is 8:45-5:30. I was thinking a tues/wed/thurs as I will always be able to take a long weekend if I need to go away (much less holiday allowance this time in comparison to full time hours). But my friend said about Mon/Tues/Wed as I will have more time off due to bank holidays. My holiday allowance includes bank holidays so not sure if this would make a difference anyway?

anyway, there's not much in it but opinions would be greatly appreciated 😄

Usually if you work Mondays and it's a bank holiday it actually takes away from your holiday allowance so you end up with less holiday. If you are able to, I'd avoid Mondays 😊

If you have to work a Saturday every other week what about Wed/Thu/Fri? You'd still have a long weekend...even on weeks you worked a Sat.

Is your place of work open on Bank Holiday Mondays?

Your bank holidays being included in holiday allowance means you have to take a day of annual leave when there is a bank holiday. 4 bank holidays are on a Monday so if you work a bank holiday, you take 4 days of annual leave to cover those. It doesn’t make much difference to you as 3 of the other bank holidays will change day and likely fall on your working pattern, so you’ll probably end up taking 4 days to cover bank holidays anyway.

In your position, I would do Weds, Thurs, Fri and every other Sat. You then extend long weekends into Monday and that gives you Tuesday to get yourself back on top of things before starting work again.

I split my days so I can have a break mid-week, and the kids get a break from childcare. I don’t work Mondays so I get to take those bank holidays as extra days off throughout the year.