Working Moms, Compressed Week?

[EMC2022]

Hi All,

Wanted people's thoughts on the following. I am due to return to work from maternity leave. My usual hours are:

Mon to Thu 7:00-15:30
Fri 7:00-14:00

I have been offered a compressed week which would be

Mon to Thu either 08:00-18:00

On my original hours we had planned my DH would do creche drop off at 08:00 (he would then finish work at 17:00) and I would do pick up at 16:00.

On compressed week I would do drop off at 07:45 and him pickup at 16:00 (hopefully).

I was just wondering if people who might have worked both think the day off every week is worth the 4 long days?

Will you actually get the Friday off, or will you end up doing the extra long days Monday and Thursday and then logging on to your email on the Friday. (Assuming it's that type of job).

I think compressed hours are very personality and role dependent.

Definitely off as my job is full on site based.

However with my normal hours I usually get flexible working time (just have to work my 8 hours within 7am to 6pm) but with the compressed week I lose all flexible time and have to work set hours.

Can't figure out if flexibility an shorted days are worth more than an extra full day off.

I'm a FTM so unsure what benefit is most precious

The compressed hours don't sound that great to me. But your current hours sound ideal so I may be biased! The earlier finish always makes me feel like I have a proper afternoon and evening. Finishing at 6, getting home at 6.30.. it would be pretty much work, eat, sleep for 4 days of the week.

Also, I wouldn't give up flexibility. It's worth too much.

I wouldn’t give up the flexibility and early finishes personally

I wouldn’t personally. I’ve done compressed hours before when I didn’t have children and I felt the balance of having no life Tuesday to Friday was worth a 3 day weekend every week but with children now I’d basically not see them for 4 days and I’d hate that. I know I’d be saving 1 days nursery but it just wouldn’t be worth it for me. I do know couples who have both compressed hours to each have a 4 day week so child is only in nursery 3 days per week and like it though so it must work for some.

how long is your commute as well?

having fixed hours and no flexibility is hard too. You’re not likely to be at work at 8am on the dot every day so will likely turn up early to compensate and then you’re just working for free!

Have done similar. Now both kids are in school I'm doing 5 days a week, 3 longer days and 2 finishing at 3 for school run. Flexibility to manage kids sickness, attend last minute school events etc is invaluable.
Also found nothing getting done during long days so spending all weekend catching up with insane mess at home rather than doing little bit each day.
But that's my working style. Also don't have expensive commute.

I do a compressed week but my kids are older (11 & 15) and I WFH FT. We don't eat until 6:30/7 but after school they are off with their mates so not bothered about me being at work. My DO I use for gym/seeing friends/doing self employed work etc and really enjoy having that time. I would say that when my kids were younger I would prefer to have shorter days and spend more time with my LO. They will be shattered after nursery and you will be after finishing at 18:00 so not much quality time. Although you would potentially recoup that on your extra day off you would likely find you are tired and playing catch up on household tasks.

Can you do a trial of the options?

What childcare are you using?

If it's a nursery I'd go with the five short days as I think that would be much better for your baby.

If you've got a nanny you might be better doing the four long days.

When your child goes to school the short days will definitely be better, so don't change now if you can't change back later.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I was thinking the flexibility and short days was probably worth more to me with a LO.

I didn't think of some of the valuable points. As of now DS doesn't go to bed til 8pm but once he is down to one nap and in nursery then bedtime will move up meaning I would probably hardly see him on my working days and that is a definite deal breaker for me.

I also am a neat freak so I probably would spend the Friday cleaning after being too tired to do it Mon to Thurs.

I think the compressed week was something that would have worked if I had no children or older children.

I will stick to my normal working hours for now.

I was just wondering if you all had advice how to make the transition back to work easier? I am afraid I won't get the balance with work, chores and quality time right. I want to try and do anything to make home life easier.

Flexibility and shorter days would be my suggestion. You will most likely have to take a lot of days off due to sickness etc - less impact with shorter days.

That is something I never thought about and a very good point. I do need to take a day and a bit otherwise