Working part-time...who's cracked it?

[LoveableLou]

I've recently returned to work after having a baby and I'm more stressed than when I was working full time. I know what's causing it - trying to fit in a week's worth of work into 3 days. I know it can't be done though. Does anyone have any tips as to how I can perhaps organise myself better or is it just a case of lowering my the expectations I've unrealistically put on myself?

I do 4 days a week in a senior role and have done this now for over 10 years. It works for me. Depends on the job obviously, but in my job, if I were to do 3 days, I’d find that much more difficult as I’d have to say “no” much more often and ask for deadlines to accommodate me which is a bit exhausting. Agree with what someone else said about training etc taking a bigger % of your available time if you work less days.

I work four days/28 hours, I carry out 28 normal hours of work, I don’t try to cram 37 in. My projects either take longer to complete, or I’m given clients with a smaller work load.

“I finish at 4” and “i don’t work fridays” are always my answers when someone attempts to allocate something without extending the end date by the number of days I won’t be in work.

After maternity leave I reduced from 5 days to 3 but found I had built up sooo much annual leave that I was barely ever there and struggling to do my job. I used up all the AL I'd built up over my maternity year and then increased to 4 days a week. Even with that I feel guilty. My manager sets meetings for Friday's and I have to continuously remind her I don't work Fridays and then get the impression in such a hindrence.
I actually work 32 hours and they work 37.5 so it's not actually that different but I'm definitely treated as if I work less.
When I was working 3 days I noticed my workload didn't change and my job is a Project coordinator/planner role and so the projects don't stop. Sometimes there's meetings on days I'm not there in relation to the projects and so I do miss out

It is very tricky to manage

I have been trying to figure this out for years and still not cracked it!
First of all i struggled to get a 3 day job as a UX designer. I work in the tech industry which is mainly men and I have yet to see ANY part-time jobs advertised.

I feel my only option for a good work life balance is to work for myself.
I now run a small pre-money start-up so i can make my own hours but currently my workload is relentless! I have grown the business from just me to employing 4 people. I'm now looking for a business partner to job share with me.

If anyone is interested in making your job work around your life and at the same time tackle climate change please get in touch ASAP.

Here is more about me and the job
swopzshop.com/co-founder/

@ViceLikeBlip

I've not cracked it at all. I work officially 4 days but spread over 5, and of course the 4 days' work fills 5 days exactly. But I don't have to take any work home with me, so that's my 20% "off" I guess 🤦‍♀️

I've not cracked it either. I managed to negotiate a 4 day week. In the last 6 months this has just meant that I work the 5th day at home, without pay, or I go in on Saturday mornings.

My department head just shrugs and said it is for me to manage my timetable (while giivng me more new clients and an unpredictable caseload).

I am giving myself until half term then will hand in my notice.

So i am yet another highly qualified professional middle aged woman who cannot juggle all the balls in the air and whose career is going to be crushed by it.

TBH, I cannot WAIT to be a SAHM. Not least because I already share significant caring duties with DH for a SEN child and we are breaking.

As I get older, the prospect of PT gets more enticing. Everyone who has done it though, ends up with a slightly reduced workload to cram into fewer days.

Wish it were possible to do it properly.

I completely agree with everything said above. I work 4 days which is basically full time as all the FT staff work a 50 hour week. What I have done recently though is carve out interesting projects that I haven't got around to doing and then package them up as a growth opportunity for people interested in moving into my area of the business. It's win win as I get to shift something off my plate, someone more junior gets some experience in the area of the business I work in so helps their promotion prospects and I look like an inspiring leader who is bringing through the future generation . I work in a large Corporate organisation so this helps as there's always a pool of people looking to get into new roles.