About going part-time in my current role for a part-time dream job

[Naimee87]

I would love to hear if anyone has ever managed to successfully reduce their working hours to pursue another role they really love. I currently work full time, a mix of being in the office and being able to wfh. Its a pure admin role. Very tedious/monotonous and just dull. But flexible working hours and very good pay. I have been in the same role now for 8 years. No real option to progress nor would i want to as it would be more stress and the same work simply supporting more senior people.

During the pandemic i was able to train/obtain various qualifications to be able to work in an industry i would just love to be in. Absolutely unrelated to what i currently do. I was able to shadow someone today who currently does the job i would love to do and i had a chat with the team lead who basically said they could take me on a part-time basis. I have no idea what to do? I don’t know how to raise this with work at all. I cannot quit altogether and lose my current job, i would absolutely need both jobs. I’m a single parent with a 13yr old. The only income we have is mine. Anyone got any advice on how to handle this? How to even broach the subject with work? Do i discuss with my line manager? Our team lead? HR? I just cannot sit back and let this opportunity slip through my hands but i am terrified work will say no, part-time isn’t an option???

Make a flexible working request.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/flexible-working/flexible-working-what-is-it/

You will need to be clear about what you're asking for and whether there's any flexibility. Have you asked the new employer how many days they can offer you and whether they have any preference for the days you work?

Thank you!!!! I’ve been running scenarios through my head all afternoon.

I’m not in the UK but i suppose similar links must exist here(EU). I actually do have a suggestion which would be keeping my current job from Monday to Wednesday then every other Thursday + Friday & Saturday i would be at the new company. I would therefore need to request Thursdays & Fridays free. So assume thats a request to go to 60% ? My current job is 8-5:30 or 9-5. This new job is shift work and Saturdays are a day they are in need of staff. I seriously don’t want to rock the boat… cause any upset to the team. But i have to pluck up the courage to talk to someone next week!

If you are not in the UK that's relevant as employment rights will differ by country. See if you can find out what the law is regarding flexible/PT working in your country.

I'm a bit confused about why you would be doing the new job every other week only? 3 days a fortnight?

If the new employer is flexible, I think it might be better to show your current employer some flexibility when it comes to the days you want "off", as there might be factors to consider in terms of business needs, possible job share and their preference, etc.

Personally, if I was working every Saturday, I would ideally like to have Mondays off (as well as Sundays) so I got a 2 day break, but if it's every other Saturday, you might not mind so much?

How sensible is your 13yo, could they be left alone on Saturdays or will you need childcare?

Another thing is that if your current employer refuses your request, you could always look for another part-time/temp role that would fit around this new opportunity... presumably with your experience you would be pretty employable in your current field?

Thanks again! So helpful to discuss this!

So for the new role i would be able do every other Thursday but every Friday & Saturday. Given its shift work i’d either start early/finish mid afternoon or start in the afternoon/finish late. So i would have ‘free time, around the shifts. My DS is in school 8-4 and where we are kids are very independent from an early age. He takes himself to and from school and to his clubs. Has a good circle of friends and we’ve a great support network especially where we live. But you are right i would need to have someone as an emergency contact for him especially for Saturdays when working. I do have very good friends one who is also a neighbour, but its a big ask on a regular basis. And my family are over an hour away by car.

And it would be a huge change given i’ve been wfh for the past two years. That being said i am fairly confident we could make our home life work. I’m just concerned about rocking the boat at work and planting a seed of wanting to leave. I would be more than open to make this work as best for them as well. The good thing about Fridays is a lot of managers tend to travel home/take the afternoons off anyway so its generally a calm day in terms of requests that come in.

A part-time role in another company/department could be a good option as well. I’m just so ready for a change. The days are just dragging and i feel i am just wasting them. There is no sense of achievement at the end of the day. Motivation is at an all time low. But this new role would generate enough motivation to get through Monday-Wednesday as i’d have the end of the week to look forward to!

I love this idea of having two jobs 1 for money and 1 for job satisfaction but I never know whether it's worth it when considering second job taxes? Have you had a look into that?