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Original poster

Should I ask for a 3.5 day week?

22 replies

Lausarama · 07/04/2015 16:43

Would appreciate any thoughts.

I've been offered a new job 4 days a week. The job is good, I can walk there, I can finish at 5 to pick DD up from nursery and it's relatively well paid.

However, I want to suggest a 3.5 day contract. I'm pleased the job I have found is good and near home etc. but I only really wanted to do 3 days a week, 4 seems too much. However I know the job can't be done 3 days a week but I think 3.5 will be doable. Financially 3.5 days is fine.

I'm worried about asking. I've known my new boss for a while as I used to work at the same company but I can't seem to pluck up the courage. The company has only just started allowing people to work part time so I'm worried they'll think I'm pushing it and that I should be happy with the original 4 days offered. I don't want to start the job off on the wrong foot but I really want to ask for 3.5 days.

OP posts:

Thurlow · 07/04/2015 16:50

Personally I wouldn't. I can understand why you want to, but I'd start at 4 days and then after a while try and negotiate to 3.5 days, or doing some work from home. Like you said, I'd be worried about pushing it before even starting. And realistically if they think it needs 4 days a week, it might be better if you settled in and did the job for a while so you have an experienced and practical case to put forward for changing the hours later.

Stillwishihadabs · 07/04/2015 16:51

I would start with 4 days and see how you go tbh.

Original poster

Lausarama · 07/04/2015 17:00

Thanks for your replies. I have done the job before so I know 3.5 days is possible. And the .5 day would be 6 hours but still. If it's going to come across badly then maybe it's not worth the risk.

OP posts:

daimbardiva · 07/04/2015 17:04

My last job was advertised full time but when I was offered it I asked if I could do it 4 days and they said yes. However I basically ended up doing a full time job in 4 days for less money, so not sure I'd do it again.

TendonQueen · 07/04/2015 17:08

As well as the reasons above, I bet 3.5 days would practically speaking end up being 4 a lot of the time. Half days are tricky to maintain boundaries on. There's always stuff coming up last minute, one more thing to do etc. So you might as well get paid for four days. I'd do as suggested above and ask to work one day at home after a few months.

JemFinch · 07/04/2015 17:18

I would start on the 4 and then see how it pans out. I do 3 full days and two half days and always end up doing something on my off afternoons.

JemFinch · 07/04/2015 17:19

I would start on the 4 and then see how it pans out. I do 3 full days and two half days and always end up doing something on my off afternoons.

Original poster

Lausarama · 07/04/2015 17:24

Yes I'm sure I'll end up cramming 4 days worth of work into 3.5 days but I feel it's worth it if I can get an extra afternoon with dd. Id have to be strict with hours though, as I'd be collecting her from nursery.

My main concern is that the company will view my request badly but I'm ready to meet their objectives on reduced hours. I just want to make sure I still come across motivated to work for them if I do ask.

OP posts:

AnxiousWreck · 07/04/2015 17:28

I wouldn't. There's just too much potential for them to take the request the wrong way, and there's nothing you can do to negate that.

Start on 4 days, and then ask to work from home one day, or drop half a day. You could even start taking half a day's holiday regularly to show that you can still get everything done. They'll all know you, then, you'll be doing the job, and you are much more likely to get a positive reaction from everyone.

Thurlow · 07/04/2015 17:30

For me the problem would be that you can't really show them you're motivated to do the same amount of work in less time, without first doing the job.

Original poster

Lausarama · 07/04/2015 17:33

Thanks anxious. Can I ask why you think they'd take it the wrong way? Do you think they'll think I don't want to work hard or that I'm being lazy? This is what I'm worried about.

I won't be able to work from home on a set basis so that's not something I can ask.

Thanks for your input, very useful for me even though it's not really what I want to hear...

OP posts:

Original poster

Lausarama · 07/04/2015 17:43

Thanks thurlow. Although as I have done the job for 5 years this is where I feel I do know that i would be able to do it on reduced hours.

But still, I am torn between the 'if you don't ask, you don't get' and the 'don't push your luck' schools of thought so it's very useful to hear all comments.

OP posts:

Becles · 07/04/2015 17:46

I would be quite irritated and annoyed. Subliminally I'd take it the wrong way because I've advertised for 4 days for a reason - if I wanted 3.5, I would have advertised for 3.5. In my orgnisation, accepting your request means that I would lose the 0.5 day out of my budget so that if you leave or I need to make a role up to full time, I'd no longer be able to do that.

Strongly suggest that you start on 4 days, understand the organisation and role and then ask to reduce hours or work form home if it's doable.

MadameJulienBaptiste · 07/04/2015 17:47

Part time jobs for staff who don't already work in a place, are rare and you should take it on 4. Once you've got your feet under the table you can put forward your proposal for doing the work in 3.5 days.
maybe it's not just about the work being done, but the office being staffed to certain ratios for full days. Maybe they don't want to open the floodgates of staff wanting different combinations of hours.
maybe they don't want the work rushed and crammed into less time?
I have a 30 mile round trip for my 4 day a week job. If I got offered one walking distance from home I'd snatch their hands off.

Original poster

Lausarama · 07/04/2015 17:48

Thanks Becles - fair and interesting comments.

However can I please add again that I know the company as i have already worked for them. They approached me for a new role and suggested 4 days as they knew I was looking part time.

OP posts:

Jossysgiants · 07/04/2015 23:04

So the half day is actually more than a half day at 6 hours ? What would a full day be- 7.5 or 8? Could you take shorter lunches / work a bit later or start earlier on the other days so you are still doing the 80% hours? If so this would deal with the budget issue which is valid. You could perhaps request any arrangement on a trial basis and review in 3 months- if it doesn't meet the business needs then agree to go to the traditional 4 days.

Original poster

Lausarama · 08/04/2015 07:15

The full days are 8-5 with a 30 min lunch break and then I would be happy to do 7.30-2 on the half day.
I'd also thought of requesting the hours as a trial for 3 months so maybe I could do that Jolly, thanks.

The role is sales based so the work can't be 'rushed' but the objectives have to be met which I am confident they can be in the hours I am proposing. There will also be no problem regarding headcount budget, the organization doesnt work like that.

Thanks everyone for comments.

OP posts:

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 08/04/2015 07:21

If they've suggested 4, do you think they'd be open to a discussion around 3.5? You know these people already (and better than we do) and you've done the job before which puts you in a stronger position than if you were a total newbie. It's not as if you're suggesting 3.5 hours based on nothing.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 08/04/2015 07:21

Days, not hours!

Original poster

Lausarama · 08/04/2015 08:03

Yes I think they would be love.

My main worry about asking was about how it would be perceived by them; that they'd think I'm not motivated. But most people have said it would come across badly when not knowing the company, job etc. But as I do know the job and the company, I feel I have a strong case. And as I said, they approached me and asked me to come back to them, not the other way around.

I think I will probably suggest it as a 3 month trial, with hours that make it almost an 80% job but they will only have to pay me 70%. And if they say no, they say no.

Thanks again for comments, I have taken them all on board.

OP posts:

Blinkinwinkin · 10/04/2015 09:33

even though you know them...

Misty9 · 14/04/2015 19:21

I might be a bit late here, but I recently got offered a 4 day job - and I asked for three! They were fine about it and understood my reasons with having a young baby etc. If you've already accepted that makes it a bit harder, but if they head hunted you then I'd say go for it. like you say, the worst They can say is no. I don't think it shows a lack of motivation, I think it'd be completely understandable. or maybe my employers were desperate

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