Part-time over 5 half days

[YouLando]

I've seen a job that I really should be applying for, but am unsure about the work pattern. It's pt, which I really want, but the hours have to be worked over each afternoon, Monday-Friday. I guess it would suit some people, but I've previously worked the same number of hours, but over 2.5 days, which was great.

If you work this kind of pattern how do you find it?

I think it depends on the rest of your circumstances- particularly whether or not you have young children.
I currently work two full days but previously worked four/five part days. During term time it didn’t bother me but I found it a pain to manage childcare in school holidays as I would often have to pay for whole days.
Are the hours permanent or might there be flexibility in the future?

Used to work 30 hours over 5 days
5 days 6 hours
Child was 5 to 8.
It was tiring as early drop to breadfast club, work, collect from school, her friends came after or after school activities, dinner, reading, bed.
Pros. Able to do school runs
Fully aware of work as present 5 days
Cons. Spread too thinly, tired. More expensive for holiday care as you pay for 5 days... Rather than 3

I never got time to myself. Weekends were not mine as partner always night fishing.
Now I work less hours over 3 days.

Thanks for replying 😊

Yes, the school holidays is one of my cons on this. DD is 11, so not little and obviously not long til she could be at home more on her own, but this would be a factor at the moment.

The other con that occurs to me is the added cost of travelling 5 times a week, rather than 3, as the salary is quite low.

I work mornings, 5 days a week

Shorter days wouldnt bother me if I was working from home. I'd hate to do 10 trips on a commute for half the pay.

I do 4 long mornings - 6hr days.

I wouldn't want to work afternoons, I like getting the work done and having the rest of the day to myself.

How many hours and what time to/from would it be?

The extra travel time and cost is also a consideration.

Yep @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz! Things like factoring in additional commuting costs (if applicable) and the feeling like you work a full week but only getting PT pay would probably be disheartening.

Can you exclusively WFH?
It'll scupper any plans for big outings in the school holidays, plus weekends away etc.
Is there any flexibility at all?

Are you more productive in the mornings or afternoons?

I'm a morning worker - all my essential or complicated work is done between 8/9am and lunch. The afternoons are for housekeeping type tasks/responding to non urgent enquiries/filing etc.

I would hate that. I work part time and imo one of the big advantages of this is that you can (or should be able to) take a full day off or maybe even two during the week.

My boss wants me to do more hours but if I agree it will be longer hours on the days I'm already working, not tying myself up to working every day of the week for only part time hours and a part time salary.

I’ve done this for office admin work before, 9am-12.30pm, but it was pre-children and I had a volunteer role in the afternoons. Needing to be in every day was a core part of the role though, as working 2.5 days would have left no admin cover. Wouldn’t have done it the other way around - like PPs have said, it curtails your other plans in the day too much.

I would part-time over 5 days. I was able to set the hours so they are completely within school hours. It’s absolutely perfect.

Wow, didn't expect so many replies! Thanks all 😊
No possibility of WFH, it's a University library.
Yes, the 10 trips to commute every day for half the hours and pay doesn't fill me with joy. Interesting point about being a morning or afternoon person - thinking about this, I'm much more productive in the mornings. Wonder whether I'd just be counting down the morning until I had to drive to work.
I have no idea what the actual hours are, it doesn't specify a start/end time (maybe this would be negotiable with the successful candidate).

Wonder whether I'd just be counting down the morning until I had to drive to work.

Quite likely if you’re a morning person - I’d either pack far too much into the morning and risk rushing or being late, or go completely the other direction and drift aimlessly around, not achieving anything!

Yep, I could see both of those scenarios 😂