4 days over 5?

[goldpendant]

I currently work full time.

I'd like to reduce my hours to spend more time with our kids, they are school age but still young and need more help with reading etc than we currently give them. And if just like to see them more! At the moment they are with a childminder three afternoons a week, swim on another, and after school club another.

My boss is open to a flexible work request and I've had the idea of dropping to 4 days, but working them over 5, so that I can finish early every day.

Has anyone done this? My boss is supportive but he doesn't have kids and thinks I'm bonkers to want to do this. He's said I should think about just dropping to 4 days, but then I'm home on my own for a day (nice as it sounds), but wouldn't get those extra hours with the kids.

Any advice from you wise workers?

I'm inclined to agree with your boss, tbh.
You would still presumably have to work about 6 hours a day
(I'm working on your day being 7.5hours, so 4 days would be 30hours a week, divided by 5 days is 6 hours a day.)
I don't know how far your commute is, but you presumably wouldn't be able to pick the dc up from school, so you'd still be having to pay for childcare.
What might be better, would be to leave early enough to pick them up from school on 2, or 3 days, rather than 'being a bit earlier' every day ?

Personally though, I'd prefer the whole day off if that were an option. Get everything done when they are at school, and then that frees you up to give them a bit more time early evenings and at the weekends.

I've done this and it worked well - I worked 9 to 2.30 and had a short commute (20 mins) so could do the school run, after-school clubs etc. Also quicker to drive home out of rush hour, but bear in mind if you have to pay for travel / petrol / parking you'll still be paying for five days' worth.

I work 5 days a week school hours. It's great for the kids but it does mean you never get any time to yourself without the kids there.

So, Monday I work from home and would be able to pick them up and do the swimming.

Tues-Thurs I'd be home by 5pm instead of 7.30pm. Mum has offered to have them those few afternoons after school.

Friday pm I'd be home by 4pm and DH works from home that day too so we'd start the weekend nice and early together.

Better than one whole day off surely?

We'd be able to stop using a childminder altogether so financially we might even be better off.

Okay, now you've added the fact you don't get in until 7.30, it puts a whole new slant on it.