Which part time days are best (for you)?!

[ClearlyMoo]

Hi all

I'll be going back to work next year. Work are pretty flexible and so is the nursery (at the mo) have one DD now 5months.

I just wondered which days people work and which days they wished they worked.

I'm thinking about doing 60 or 70% of full time

So either three full days Mon/Tue/Thu

Or two full days (Mo/Th) a short day (Tu) and a half day (Fr)... (Short day and half day would be mainly aiming to WFH).

My job is such that it's project-based work so continuity throughout the week is important hence having a presence over four days.

Interested in your thoughts.

[Starlightbright1]

My friend was going to go back to work 3 days a week but she was about £200 a month better off doing 2 days due to nursery fees. so she does Tuesday and Wednesday

[Bowchickawowow]

I haven't worked on a Monday since I went back after Ds1, 8 years ago!
In my current job, Friday's are quiet in the office, I probably get more done that day than the other 3!
I normally work from home on a Thursday to reduce travelling but as I am working, I do sometimes have to go in for meetings etc. I also work shorter hours that day.

[ClearlyMoo]

Just picking up the extra replies now. Thanks all. Bosses have approved in principal 70% split M/T/Th full day and then Fri am.
They were worried about continuity so are pleased with my 4 day presence. I'm only going to work 2 days in office. They are very supportive on ensuring I don't exceed my hours. So we'll see!

[mandy214]

Just one point about the bank holidays - did you check how they work at your firm? I can see that you've agreed a plan but if you have pro-rata bank holidays added on to your annual leave, you will have much less leave working a Monday than you would by not working a Monday.

I did a 3 day week, therefore got 3/5 of the 8 bank holidays (which worked out as 5 days) added to my leave. If a bank holiday fell on one of my normal working days, I had to take it as annual leave.

There are ALWAYS at least 4 bank holidays that fall on a Monday - so you will only have 1 of your "additional" days left to cover the remaining 4 bank holidays. If those other 4 bank holidays fall on your work days, it could "cost" you (ie. eat into) your own normal annual leave. So in fact, you get less annual leave by working a Monday. Does that make sense?

If you don't work Mondays, even if all the other 4 bank holidays fall on your normal work days, you will only ever use 4 of the 5 additional days you get on bank holidays. So you kind of "profit" from an extra days annual leave. For me therefore, with school age children and 12 or 13 weeks of school holidays to cover, it makes a massive difference.

[ClearlyMoo]

Yes Mandy you're right. I've worked out it'll cost me to work Mondays. It's annoying but I still want to work Monday mainly cos I need to be in work that day due to the way we work... ! I'm going to need an extra 2 days leave in the worst case year of 6 Monday BHs (Xmas day & NY day on Sat/Sun or Mon) plan purchase 3.5 extra days a year (salary sacrifice) which'll cover those.

Thanks tho!

[Kelly1814]

To echo others, my hours are 9-3, 4 days a week.

Around 30% less and my salary has been slashed to reflect that. In actuality I work 100% of the hours.

It is hideous.