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Original poster

4 day week but which day off?

105 replies

DottieUncBab · 08/12/2022 20:25

Currently full time 35 hours but looking at dropping a day a week and doing 32 hours across four days but I have no idea which day to have off. Those who are part time what days did you choose to have off?

I am thinking maybe a Monday or Friday so I get a long weekend but could be convinced by other days.

I am probably slightly more drawn to a Monday as most Bank Holidays fall on a Monday and in my mind this I’d have less “forced” annual leave days and have more days to choose to have off with my annual leave allowance.

OP posts:

wejammin · 08/12/2022 22:14

I have Tuesdays off and I love it. Everywhere is quiet so it's great taking my little one out, bank holiday weekends become a 4 day weekend, and I do all my urgent stuff on a Monday then I get a good 3 day run of work to focus on at the end of the week.

allboysherebutme · 08/12/2022 22:19

I'd have Friday, then you get Saturday and Sunday and bank holidays when we have them. X

Totallyaddictedtoshoes · 08/12/2022 22:31

I have Tuesday off and like it as Mondays don't feel so bad knowing it's only one day then I'm off, plus bank holiday weekends are always 4 days. I used to work 3 days a week and took Tuesday and Wednesday off, but when going back up to 4 days a week I thought the long bank holiday weekends would be better for me. I must admit I was never quite sure on what my leave entitlement would be for bank holidays if they weren't classed as a working day for me, I always presumed I'd get shafted, so decided to work it and it's always worked well for me.

DisneyChops · 08/12/2022 22:37

Monday definitely.
Sundays are glorious.

LoveBluey · 08/12/2022 22:41

Definitely Monday. Bank hols work in your favour and Fridays are normally a more relaxed working day anyway.

The only thing to bear in mind is lots of businesses close on Mondays. My hairdresser doesn't open which is annoying for me as it would be the best day for me to get my hair done, also many local cafes etc don't open but it's still worth it to not have that Sunday night dread.

gamerchick · 08/12/2022 22:41

I've done both. Fridays are better because of the bank holidays I've found.

GG1986 · 08/12/2022 22:44

Definitely monday!!

Jojojoa · 08/12/2022 22:49

Monday all the way! - but as others have said check that you will get your pro rata allocation of bank holidays.

I found that previously when I worked on Mondays other people werent in due to a/l and that an hour plus was taken up talking to people about what they did at the weekend so its wasnt a very productive day (but this is good for team building/ gossip).

In my office prior to covid lots of people worked from home on Fridays and so only about half the office was in so it was a good time to get stuff done. Now post covid I would estimate that fewer than an a quarter are in so it is really really quiet.

Only proviso is to have some flexibility as several times a year we have events that are organised for Tuesdays so it is very handy for me to swap my day off for another day to help with last minute prep fpr the event.

ParbadosBeach · 08/12/2022 22:51

I'd vote for Monday too.
Everyone's back to work/school and you have an extra day off, it's great.
Everyone goes for Friday off usually but I loved my Mondays off.

stripes416 · 08/12/2022 23:00

Absolutely Wednesdays! It breaks the week up and it feels amazing going into work knowing you only have two days till the next break and then when you go back on Thursday you only have the two days again. A lot of cafes and small independent places close on Mondays too. I'd also choose a Wednesday to have off

UsingChangeofName · 08/12/2022 23:30

Don’t take Mondays off because so many are paid Bank Holidays

Opposite with my contract, so do check.
I don't work Mondays, so I get 4/5 of a day's leave added on to my AL allowance for all the BHs that fall on a Monday. If I worked on a Monday, I would have to take the whole day off and have to use 1/5 of a day out of my AL allowance to make up the day. It DEFINIETLEY works out better not to work Mondays with my contract.

If you are a parent of school age dc, the feeling of Sunday nights is SO much lovelier if you don't have to get everything done on a Sunday night is lovely. I've tired different NWDs and Mondays are definitely the best ones to have off IMO.
I find myself much more productive on a Monday too - cracking on with housework, and all the "paperwork" type stuff and getting loads done. When I had Friday off, I used to slow down and go into weekend mode and get far less achieved in the same number of hours.

ElizabethCaroline18 · 08/12/2022 23:47

I love Wednesday off. Only have two days at work in a row. It's handy to do midweek chores or appointments.
Friday's were good for a long weekend but in my field a lot of emails and tasks would come through on Friday so I would end up with a massive back log when I went in on Mondays.
Monday's off definitely stop the Sunday night depression and mean you can celebrate the weekend more

Cattenberg · 09/12/2022 00:01

If you have a child in nursery, then definitely Mondays! Many nurseries close on bank holidays, but still charge for the day.

I used to have Thursdays off and that was OK, but I’d have preferred Monday or Friday. One of my colleagues had Tuesdays off and didn’t like it. She said she’d only just got started after the weekend and it felt disruptive to stop and start.

Cornelious · 09/12/2022 00:02

Monday off. Your leave will be pro rata'd out so you don't miss out and if you have dc and childcare then you won't be paying for a day they're not in as you'll be off.

cunningartificer · 09/12/2022 09:02

I have Fridays and it's great! We don't get bank holidays back so every one is a four day weekend, and it's a great day to do stuff to keep your weekends clear. When the children were little I had Wednesdays and that was brilliant as it meant there was never too long a run without a day with them.

harly5 · 09/12/2022 09:10

When I did 4 days I took the Wednesday off, it was fab! The week goes by so quickly just working 2 days either side.

Bunnycat101 · 09/12/2022 19:44

Love having Monday off due to the bank holidays. I did very well out of it this year with the extra days. I would also say though that I really like working Fridays. It is generally a more relaxed day to be working and I find I need the Friday to catch-up. I do know some people who feel a bit behind not working Mondays but I hope never to have to work them again. Means there is no Sunday night ‘back to work’ syndrome.

OneFrenchEgg · 09/12/2022 19:46

Wednesday here - feels like mid week / last day all the time

RitaSueandBobtwo · 09/12/2022 19:50

I’d go for Friday end of the week nice long weekend or a Wednesday to break the week up.

Frazzled2207 · 09/12/2022 19:53

Mondays for me- I get 80% of monday bank holidays back in my annual leave pot to use as I please

I’m the only person in our house that doesn’t get Sunday night blues!

one word of warning though/ round here all the hair and beauty places and many cafes are closed on Monday which is a massive pain at times

Happyher · 09/12/2022 19:53

Friday for me. I prefer it at the end of week, when I seem to do more. I know it’s only my perception but Mondays always seem gloomy whenever I’ve had to have leave on a Monday

SusieKin · 09/12/2022 19:55

I like having a Thursday off, going back in on a Friday isn’t too bad as it’s always quiet and chilled.

POTC · 09/12/2022 19:58

Monday or Friday. Your holiday allowance will be pro-rata and you actually end up gaining because of the bank hols.

ConnieTucker · 09/12/2022 20:01

I first had thurs and fridays and loved that. Then just Fridays. Was great. Then had my day off changed to by work to a Monday and while i enjoyed having that day off as i no longer had Sunday dread, i lost out due to bank holidays as didnt get those back in any way.

ConnieTucker · 09/12/2022 20:03