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Original poster

Which days should I work?

29 replies

mergle · 20/03/2004 17:27

I've been back at work a week. Have now arranged to reduce my hours so that I work only 3 days.

I've said Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, but now I'm having second thoughts. I'm thinking it might be better not to have the gap-do 2 days off (eg Monday + Tuesday) then 3 days at work (Wed Thurs Fri) then the weekend.

My son (6 months) has been in nursery full time all last week and for a couple of extra days before-he loves it and I'm not at all worried there. I just wonder if it'd be less disruptive for him (and/or me) if I worked 3 consecutive days.

Any votes?

OP posts:
aloha · 20/03/2004 17:55

I much prefer working consecutive days. Otherwise you can't get into a task and lose momentum. Working Monday - Wed will probably be best for your company as those are usually the busiest days, Friday is the quietest. Working consecutive days also means your weekend starts on Wed night, which is a good feeling (mind you, I work from home which means I do something most days).

aloha · 20/03/2004 17:56

Also, after the weekend, I think it's really rather nice to have the Monday child-free.

twiglett · 20/03/2004 17:58

message withdrawn

tamum · 20/03/2004 18:07

I would go for 3 consecutive days too. I don't want to sound alarmist but children can sometimes have a bit of a rough patch at nursery once separation anxiety really kicks in, so if by any chance that happens I think you'll find consecutive days are easier on you both. I like having Fridays off- the weekend starts early and we always have a nice relaxed day.

Kayleigh · 20/03/2004 18:07

I have done 3 days for a couple of years and have had to change my days due to childcare arrangements so have worked quite a few permatations .
I originally worked mon/tues/weds but didn't like this as it always felt like I was losing my Sunday preparing everybody for Monday back at school/work. I then did weds/thues/fri which was much better and I loved having 2 days after the weekend.
I am currently working tues/weds/thurs and have found this to be the best option yet as I have the end and the beginning of the week free.
I agree with twiglett in that I would always choose to work consecutive days.

Original poster
mergle · 20/03/2004 18:11

This is really helpful. Thanks for the quick responses.

I want to be off Monday as there's 2 parent and toddler/baby groups we go to-we've got to know everyone pretty well and one of my main reasons for reducing my days was so I'd actually know some of son's friends. Also taking Friday off isn't popular with my collegues as it means no-one else gets Fridays off (ITMS)-fair enough.

Anymore comments?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 20/03/2004 18:11

Don't forget about bank holiday Mondays though. Do these get taken into account if you don't usually work on a Monday?

jac34 · 20/03/2004 18:15

I would rather work consecutive days as well, I work Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, which I love. It's great having Monday & Friday off, I chose these days originally as they fitted in better at work, I'm in on our busiest days. Also, we usually have my step DD on the weekends, the house is a tip by Monday after 3 kids rampaging through all weekend, so I have Monday to clear the decks ready for the week.
However, I have a friend who works Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and says she could never work 3 days on the trot. It really depends on what suits you best.

Kayleigh · 20/03/2004 18:17

Even though i don't work mons and fris I get 3/5 (as I work 3 out of 5 days) of all bank holidays that fall on these days. I think this year I get something like 2.5 extra days hols. The fact that I can take these wheneverr I want is actually better than taking them on specific days in my opinion.
This is a european directive and your HR dept should know about it. Mine did but funnily enough didn't mention it until a friend told me about it and I asked our HR if I was entitled.

jac34 · 20/03/2004 18:18

As I don't normally work a monday I get bank Holidays added to my annual leave. If this happens with you it might be even more of a reason not to work a monday!!

Kayleigh · 20/03/2004 18:19

I also find I get more out of my weekend by having mon & fri off. Fri I can get everything ready for weekend, washing, shopping etc so weekend tends to be more relaxed. Sunday night I can get kids stuff ready for school knowing I have all day monday to sort anything out I need to before I'm at work for 3 days.

katzguk · 20/03/2004 18:22

i work mon wed fri and love it, it means i never have to go to work two days in a row. used to work mon 1/2tues weds and hated it used to dread mondays as knew had to work three days!!!

fisil · 20/03/2004 18:24

dp doesn't work Wednesday which he loves as he feels like it's two weeks!

katzguk · 20/03/2004 18:26

my Dh doesn't work weds and is a much nicer person for it, calls tuesday mid-week friday!! plus he loves his day at home with DD

tamum · 20/03/2004 18:33

Another possibility that would be worth considering (but would depend entirely on your type of work) would be to do some half days. I initially did this so that the children were only at nursery in the mornings, and so that I could be there to supervise people in my lab for at least part of the day. It's now even more ideal as I can be there to pick the children up from school 3 days out of 5 (they come out at midday on Friday here).

Original poster
mergle · 20/03/2004 18:53

tried that tamum-work won't let me (big grrrrrrr here-its absolutely my prefered solution)

OP posts:
Hulababy · 20/03/2004 19:09

Mergle- I work Tues to Thursday part time and it is great. Woudn't want to change it now

sibble · 20/03/2004 19:30

I used to work mon,tues,wed which is great for getting into work and being able to finish jobs, not great if you have the luxury of being able to socialise as this often happens on a friday. I now work Tues, Wed, Fri to fit around DS's nursery which is OK. On a plus side knowing that i only have 1 day to work come Friday is hardly a hardship then we will be having a family weekend on the downside it is hard to get motivated.
I think whichever combination you end up doing you make it work for you if you haev quality time when you are not working and it is infinately better than working 5!!

kiwisbird · 20/03/2004 20:00

i preferred the 3 days on four days off and so did the nursery and so did work!

hoxtonchick · 20/03/2004 20:23

I work Mondays, Thursdays & alternate Fridays which I really like - I have a mid-week weekend. I am considering changing my Fridays though, as practically everyone I know who works part-time has Fridays off & it's ruining our social lives!

janinlondon · 22/03/2004 15:09

Don't work Mondays!! If your child is in nursery on Mondays they will probably charge you for all the bank holiday Mondays that they are closed, especially if they have a monthly rounding system. Depending on cost of nursery, this can really add up.

dinny · 22/03/2004 15:18

Don't work Fridays, Mondays and Sundays! Means have to use up annual leave to have a long weekend.

katierocket · 22/03/2004 15:19

I work Mondays and we don't get charged for mondays.

katierocket · 22/03/2004 15:20

doh! I meant we don't get charged for bank holidays.

dinosaur · 22/03/2004 15:21

I work Mon-Wed and Fri, although can change day off from Thurs to another day if I need to (and by the same token work can make me change it if it suits them).

I like having a split because I always feel like I get two Fridays because Wednesday always seems like the end of the week, and then I only have one more work day before the weekend. Also, if I am off for two consecutive days the backlog of emails is far worse to deal with.

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