Stressful job 3 days a week or perfect job full time?

[mountainlover]

I'm facing a bit of a dilemma.

I can go back to my old job, which was interesting but involved long hours and was very stressful - but who are now promising me 3 days a week, 9 till 530pm (although it's still likely to be a high stress environment)

Alternatively, there's a good chance I may be able to do a similar-ish thing for another employer, with much less stress - but probably only full time.

Anyone else faced this choice? Any thoughts on how it worked out?

Thanks

Do you believe your employers when they promise three days a week or are you likely to end up working late/on your days off/still being stressed and only being paid for three days? For the other job, do you definitely know that it is full time? You say "probably" at the moment? Can you negotiate maybe four days/a day from home?

I would go for the f-t. Part time days are (imo) good for the employer - get f-t out of you, pay p-t hours and bad for the employee - much stress, long hours, lower pay, lower status in the office. Also, when f-t, my lovely lovely husband seemed to find it easier to assume that all home stuff would be a 50/50 split whereas part-time somehow everything ended up being mine, so home life was more stressy as well.

I have been trying to do a f.t. job in p.t. hours since May 2009! I have now upped my hours to 4 days from 3 and this makes it easier. I do love my job, and am glad to be there though.

Everone who goes back p.t. after f.t. says the same ime!

Full time - def in those circs

Sorry, when people talk about going back to their old job on a part-time basis I assume (wrongly, I think!) that this means a portion of their old role with some modifications to allow for the fact that the employee is now present for only 3/5 of the time, for example. If no consultation has taken place about how exactly your part-time role will work or what tasks you will no longer be undertaking, then I would definitely go for the fulltime role.

JoanHolloway, good point about the housework, hadn't occurred to me!

Although part time sounds good it never works out like this as employers still insist on giving added duties forgetting that you only work 3 days.
It is a tough call in the end I opted for full time but loose out with the kids. But reflecting on it maybe this makes them more rounded as individuals.

Thanks everyone, and sorry to take forever to write again, I've not been well.

Yes, it is the old job, but with the number of things I have to take on reduced so that (theoretically), it fits into the reduced hours. But my concern - as several of you say - is that it ends up spilling over into evenings, weekends etc,

The FT role, I may be able to do some time from home, which would definitely make it easier. I guess I'm just wary that what with housework too (even with my husband's support), I'd end up spending practically no proper time with my baby.

But useful to get people's thoughts - it seems FT might counter-intuitively be the way to go.

Wow, are all part time jobs like that then? The same work but in 3/5ths the time? If so, FT sounds better. Hypothetical for me as I have not yet gone back to work but do intend to go FT.