Would you rather work 2 long days a week or 5 short days?

[sarah8484]

Stuck between staying in the job im in which is 2 long days (9 hour shifts) then 5 days off or take a new job ive been offered (3 hour shifts Monday-Friday). Theres pro's and cons to both but just would like to hear other people's opinions. I have a few days to make my decision and honestly don't know which I prefer

2 long days! MUCH better work life balance, think of all the free time you will have.

Five short days. Assuming it's the morning and not a a long commute.

If afternoons or a long commute, I'd go two long days.

Shorter days seem less onerous somehow.

Definitely two long days for me, and 5 whole days off!

Depends on whether you are trying to work around the school day (short hours five days a week) or nursery/ finding another job/ semi retirement in which case two long days.

It depends why you do PT work. Before DC are school age, the 2 long days, once they're at school, the short days. If childcare is not a concern, the long days (more days off)

Do the 2 long days ever happen at the weekend? It would really depend on your family life. If I was single I would do the 2 long days.

2 long days without a doubt.

Depends entirely on the job but personally would prefer 2 long days rather than 5 short, the commuting and always at work would bother me as not much time to do other stuff.
Currently I do 5 X 9 hours or thereabouts would rather do 4 X 11 so I had more time to do stuff for me

2 long days

2 long days - you will save so much time on commuting. Even if your commute is just 15 minutes, that's 1.5 hours a week you save.

2 long days . I used to do 3 X 13 hour shifts a week and then have stretches of days off and I loved it . It was tiring but having the days off after was great. I now work in a different job doing 5 6.5 hour days which are nice as I live walking distance to work anyway and it’s an easier job but I miss my days off.

2 long days. I'm currently doing 5 x 3 hour days and I don't like it. The mad morning rush feels such a waste for a 3 hour shift, and going to work is on your mind as much as full time because you always know that you're going in the next day.

Also I'm relying on people to watch/collect my children because I can't earn enough in 3 hours to cover the childcare so we'd be worse off each month if I paid for it.

Both jobs are same sector. Two long days are week days so have weekend and 3 weekdays off. My youngest is due to start school in September and the 5 short days would allow me to take and pick up everyday. And 2 long days job is a short commute but the 5 short days is walking distance. So many pro's and con's. So stuck in what to go with.

If the 2 long days will exhaust you, then you'll need more time to recover depending on your commute if you have to travel and balance against your other commitments.

Whilst the large chunk of time off sounds tempting, 5 short days sounds more manageable. It would also depend on the nature of the job and what I'd be picking up after my absence and if I was ever expected to stay late?

Write a for and against list and see how you feel when writing it which one sways you more?

5 long days
But no 5 short days but that's me, I like routine of going to work

@Bluejaune that's a good idea, thanks

Two long days will be so much better for the holidays

Do you work in a sector that has unpaid overtime? In my experience 5 short days can end up being 5 longer days or playing catch up with extra work in the evenings as emplyers treat you more like a ft employee.

2 long days would be better for the school holidays, you only have to find childcare for 2 days rather then 5.
Who will pick your child up/take to school on the long days?
Are the 2 days flexible?

Sorry, forgot to add both jobs are term time only. All overtime would be paid.

Long days all the way! I do 3 10 hour days to have 4 days off. It's bliss compared to 5 days.

With a child in primary and a short commute then 5 short days is a no brainer. I’ve done both when my DC were at different ages and actually found 2 days a PITA because I spent so much time trying to remember where I’d got to. But with DC in nursery and a long commute then 2 long days is much better.

I work FT but finish at 3pm two days a week. Its beautiful feels like I have so much more time on those days.

Having read your update the 5 short days sounds perfect but I can understand the temptation for the other option too

How old are your other children and what around-school care do you currently have in place.

Sounds like commute isn't much of an issue for either.

Could you negotiate 4 x 4hr days in the new job rather than 5 x 3hr, it would be an extra day although still less than the 2 x 9hr you are currently doing and would leave you with the ability to do the school run and be there after school but still leave you a free weekday.

Is there any progression or additional hours opportunities in either job should you want that as your children grow.

Would the short hours job be likely to just the 3 hours? I find now my children are older and I go longer have to be there to pick them up that I stay a bit longer just to finish stuff - that's ok cos I book my hours, but you don't want to be giving them your time for free. Plus attitudes of colleagues to short days can be frustrating.