Poll: Is working 4 mornings a week 'odd'?

[takefu]

I'm due to go back to work in a few months, and am not thrilled with the idea of being away from DD for ten hours a day- even though I'm only scheduled to work two days a week. I'd like to propose working 4 half days instead, which I think my employer will accept. My husband thinks this arrangement is 'odd'. What do you think? Of course, I also have to consider childcare. I'd like some opinions before I propose this to my employer... and to take back to DH. Thanks

not odd.

I don't think so. Depends v much on what your job is, but you may find that your employer will like the idea of having you 4 days a week in the office (even if they are short days) better than only two days.

Not odd, sounds like a lovely compromise.

Not odd but may be more expensive re: childcare. Also are you likely to be able to leave on time each day? When I went back to work after maternity leave I originally did 2.5 days but on the half day I could never get away on time so it felt like I was doing 3 days IYSWIM!

I'd rather do 2 days - less toing and froing getting there

I also preferred working more "short" days to less "full" days, and I got an arrangement similar to what you suggest

I currently work five days a week, (flexi but average five hours a day - used to be 3 3/4 hours).

Quite a few people who work p-t in my line do five half-days, although some do do 2 1/2 days.

It works for me. (I'd quite like to do my hours over four days but can't because of the school-run).

not odd. my best mate works 4 mornings as a ta.

?
In what way odd?
I do 4 short days, 23 hours in total

Not odd at all - perfectly understandable!

Be aware if you are considering nursery for childcare that they usually charge per "session" e.g. where we were sessions were from 8 am to 1 pm and 1pm to 6 pm. So if you just wanted a morning session then you had to pick up before 1 pm. My boss wanted me to work 10 til 2 or 3 everyday and could not understand why this was not acceptable until I explained that I would be paying for full time childcare out of part time wages and it would cost me more than I was earning!

If you are using a childminder then they might like you to drop off after any school run they might do and collect before afternoon school run. So your hours might be more like 10 til 2 pm.

Depends on your job and what is required - maybe you can job share with some one so that the afternoons are covered?

Sometimes 4 mornings can work better for employer as it means you are there nearly every day albeit for a few hours, so things do not have to wait nearly a week before you are in again. Also as you probably wont take a meal break you will be working all the time you are there.

When I went back to work after having DS1 I started out doing 5 afternoons a week. For me it was a pita, and I preferred it when I swapped to doing 2.5 days instead, but it's definitely not an 'unusual' thing to do.

Nothing odd about your suggestion. I've just gone back to work and i'm doing 3 long mornings 8am-2pm, so that i can do the school pick-up.

No, it's not odd