New job, 4 days a week, finding it tough. Any advice?

[MumbleBag]

I have two DCs (3 & 1) and started a new job about a month ago 4 days a week, 30 min commute in the car. I was made redundant just before I had DC2 where I worked 3.5 days and could walk to work in 15 mins. I really wanted to return to work and applied for this job which was advertised as full time and was thrilled when they agreed to 4 days (but initially on a 6 month contract).

Now I'm there, I'm finding it tough. The DCs go to nursery 3 days a week (my mum has them once a week). DC1 is struggling with change a bit and I worry about not being there for them; both now and later when they're starting school. The job is full on and I have a 5 day job to do in 4 days and feel like I have so much to learn. The nursery has also just had an inadequate rating which hasn't helped. On the other hand, I was really keen to find a part time job when I was a SAHM. I didn't want to leave going back to work too late and not be able to find anything then. I just wish I could work a bit less than 4 days.

I'm not sure what I want to ask really, but I'd be interested to hear other people's experiences, especially how a 4 day week works around school.

I increased to 4 days from 3 days. Commute isn't as long as yours, but it took me a good few months to get used to it. It also took a while for dd to get used to it, but now she is, it's fine.

Give it a bit longer to see how things go, I always think it takes at least a few months in any job to get it, and feel like you have any idea what you are doing. I always tell new team members to expect the " what the hell was I thinking taking this job" feeling at the 4-6 week mark, but stick with it and it will be ok. (And every single one has told me that they were glad I told them to expect it, and to work through it and at about 8 weeks, everything falls into place).

Sorry you are finding it tough.

A month isn't long in a new job esp when you have returned from mat leave.

I think you need to try to accept the 4 day element for now and focus on doing a 'good enough' job and being kind to yourself.

I did a 4 day a week job that was advertised as 5. It was tough, but I didn't help matters by trying to do things too quickly/trying to ensure I was delivering soon as I arrived.

If I had my time again I would given myself more time. I am sure your employer isn't expecting you to be up-to-speed after a month.

Can you keep a diary of what is being required of you? If they are only paying for 4 days then they should only be expecting 4 days of work. A few months in you should be able to work out if you are being asked to do too much and address that with your manager.

Are you concerned about the DC's nursery? Not being happy with their childcare would be very stressful.

I think you need to give it longer and then consider the options. There are lots of sobering threads on here about mums trying to get back into the workplace after a break and it seems very difficult etc.

Good luck.

Any new job is hard work at first, when you get used to all the ins and outs of it.
Add into that the fact you aren't just moving from one job to another, but from being at home to WOTH, and that's a massive change, so you are bound to be tired and a bit stressed.
I'd stick with it and see out the 6 months - you've got an end date in sight if you still don't like it 3 or 4 months down the line, yet it shows you stick to things if you do - it wouldn't look great on your CV to just leave and let them down a couple of months in.

All that said - I think 4 days often does tend to end up with everyone expecting you to do 5 days work. In my book, if you are being paid 80% of FT salary, then you should only be doing 80% of the work, and it's much easier to be clear about the "part-time-ness" of it, if you work 3 days or fewer.