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Original poster

what else can I call my 'day off'?

38 replies

JuliaGulia · 18/12/2010 14:21

Hi,

I'm returning to work in February after a year off with my lovely b/g twins.

I've negotiated that monday will be my day off but I don't really want to go round advertising that it's my 'day off' because it sounds like I could be off having an easy life.

Shall I call it my 'non working day' or does that sound over sensitive?

I just don't want people thinking I don't work as hard as those doing 5 days in the office - because it's much harder being at home with twins and i want some recognition for it!

Any advice appreciated x

OP posts:
bran · 18/12/2010 14:30

How about an 'out of office' day?

I think you're going to be disappointed if you want recognition from your colleagues that being at home with twins is harder than working. It's one of those things that you have to experience to understand, most of them will think that you are having a day off, I would have before I had DC. If anyone says anything negative then just point that you get paid for four days and they get paid for five.

muddleduck · 18/12/2010 14:45

I call it "my day with the kids"

violethill · 18/12/2010 15:48

Call it a 'day off work' rather than 'day off'. After all, that's what it is. Your colleagues will know you're part time now, so I would just refer to it like that (if you need to refer to it at all). 'Out of office' sounds more like a full time worker who happens to be out of the office elsewhere that day.

Iwasthefourthwiseman · 18/12/2010 16:03

Call it your 'other job' Xmas Grin. I know the feeling btw.

StealthPolarBear · 18/12/2010 16:05

I just used to call them my non work days.
And yes, it's amazing how many people seem to resent part timers, without realising that they get paid proportinally the same Angry

jkklpu · 18/12/2010 16:05

Say your working days are Tues-Friday instead. Colleagues are interested in when you'll be in the office, not when you won't.

violethill · 18/12/2010 16:15

I'm intrigued as to why you are so bothered about your work colleagues giving you recognition for your non working days though?

As jkklpu says, work colleagues are interested in when you'll be in, not whether you are working harder/less hard on your days at home. It's really not their concern - and IME, people are interested in their own lives and families, not other peoples. As long as you are doing the job you're paid to do, for the 4 days you're paid, why should there be an issue? It's a little disconcerting that before even starting back, you're worrying that your colleagues ought to realise that you have a lot on your hands with children at home. I'm sure the ones who are parents themselves, know exactly how hard young children are, and those who aren't parents won't care anyway!

StealthPolarBear · 18/12/2010 16:43

It's not really that vh but I know when I worked 33 hours over 4 days my boss and colleagues used to mention "my day off" as though it was a favour they were doing me - well it wasn't. I was only paid for 33 hours.

flowerytaleofNewYork · 18/12/2010 18:10

I don't think it does sound that way, and I think you're overthinking it. But does it even matter whether it 'sounds as though you could be having an easy life' on your day off? Do you care whether or not people think you have an easy life at the weekend? What's wrong with having an easy life anyway?

I am not convinced your colleagues will spend much time pondering what you do on your day off tbh. People will call it your day off because it is your day off work, so unless you're going to correct people everytime (and sound over-sensitive), is it really worth worrying about?

poppettpops · 18/12/2010 18:12

I agree with flowery It's your day off, in a work context. Nothing wrong with that! and I don't think anyone will care.

Part time people at my work tend to say 'I don't work on Fridays'

violethill · 18/12/2010 18:37

That's what I meant - it's over thinking it, and you could end up looking as though you're banging a bit of a pointless drum.

The typical working week tends to be five days; therefore, people who work fewer days than that are having 'time off' within that context. They may be laid in bed, or they may be running around like a headless chicken doing housework or with young kids - but the point is, its time off from paid work. I don't think you need to look for any ulterior motive with your colleagues. No doubt if they didn't want to be working as much, they'd go part time too.

BornToFolk · 18/12/2010 18:37

I tend to say "I don't do Fridays" or sometimes call it "my other job" but mostly for comedy effect than to make any serious point.

I know where you are coming from though. I do 26 hours over 4 days so leave the offie at 4.30pm. I picked up the phone at about 4.28pm the other day and it was someone with a non-urgent question so I asked if I could phone them back first thing as I was just about to leave and they came back with "ooooh, part timer!" Hmm I don't like the way people say that, as though it's an insult or implying you don't work as hard as everyone else.

Iwasthefourthwiseman · 18/12/2010 18:42

'It's not really that vh but I know when I worked 33 hours over 4 days my boss and colleagues used to mention "my day off" as though it was a favour they were doing me - well it wasn't. I was only paid for 33 hours.'

I was the same spb, even down to the number of hours over days!

another colleague used to call my maternity leave my 'baby holiday' and he was only half joking Hmm

violethill · 18/12/2010 18:44

That was very unprofessional to say it over the phone. However, it's darned annoying when you need to speak to someone fairly urgently and then find out they only work Tues to Thurs or something, and no one else can tell you what you need to know.

I've had that happen a few times lately

Original poster
JuliaGulia · 18/12/2010 20:13

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I suppose I'm less concerned with what my immediate colleagues think (as they all know that I'm at home with the twins) but we use electronic calendars and liaise with external customers who wont know the situation. We're obliged to keep our electronic calendars up to date and I am just thinking about how to notify people that I don't work on Mondays without coming across a, pedantic, b, feminist or c, just bloody annoying.

I met a girl once who, when I said 'do you work?' replied 'yes I look after my children'. It felt kind of awkward because she knew what I meant (and so did I) but she'd obviously made a habit of correcting anyone who thought she didn't work (hard enough to get paid!)

Not sure I want to come across like that.

How about 'I'm with my children' which seems to sound quite rewarding but not probably not something I can put on my electronic calendar.

I'm sure I don't work on Mondays will end up becoming the normal phrase - but if anyone else has some good suggestions I'd love to hear them.

x

OP posts:
MrsWeasley · 18/12/2010 20:15

Just block all Mondays as "Unavailable"

flowerytaleofNewYork · 18/12/2010 21:01

"how to notify people that I don't work on Mondays without coming across a, pedantic, b, feminist or c, just bloody annoying"

Um, can't you just say you don't work Mondays? Then to avoid people trying to book things in, block them all in your calendar as Mrs Weasley says. You don't need to come up with some explanation or excuse, all people need (or want) to know is that you don't work Mondays.

MrsClausWishesSantaWasAsleep · 18/12/2010 21:27

I used to call days off work "working from home" days as colleagues without kids just thought I was sitting down all day eating bonbons.

hairyfairylights · 19/12/2010 08:51

But if you say working at home them
that means you are available to colleagues surely, at my place we remain in phone and email contact if working at home. In a work context, you don't work Mondays.

violethill · 19/12/2010 10:30

Yes, I definitely wouldn't say 'working at home'. It's confusing. I wouldn't say I 'work' on Saturdays and Sundays (even though I still have laundry/shopping/housework to do - and usually a pile of marking too!)

dietcokesholidaysarecoming · 19/12/2010 10:41

Non working day on clear and concise. Plus it means it will be obvious it's a regular pattern when a period of time is viewed.

Unavailable makes it sound like you are being paid yet not available that day but may be available in future

BornToFolk · 19/12/2010 12:59

I also put my normal working hours on my email signiature and as part of my out of office message. Fridays are blocked as "out of office"

festivecoatgate · 19/12/2010 13:02

Here we call it SDO - ie Scheduled Day Off.

I often have to remind people that although I only work two days a week, I also only get paid for two days a week.

GrendelsMum · 19/12/2010 22:41

I agree that tallking about your 'day off' comes across as an occasional holiday, not as a standard part of your working day. It's what people say when they're having a... well, having a day off... not when they work 4 days a week and want to make that clear.

When I worked 4 days a week, I always said that I worked 'from home, on other projects' on Weds, and would not be available except in an emergency.

I agree that 'non working day' or 'not available' sounds clearer about what you're actually doing.

Balthasar · 19/12/2010 22:43

I used to put 'non-working day' on my calendar for all to see. Agree with others that day off sounds casual and doesn't sound like a regular arrangement.