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Original poster

Part time hours - what would you do?

20 replies

Dogmum11 · 17/02/2023 17:28

I’m starting to plan my return to work after mat leave and I’m stuck on what to request.
I currently work 37 hours condensed over 4 days with a Friday off.
My mum will cover childcare on a Friday and I am thinking about either working 34 hours over 4 days 0800-1700 or working 27 hours over 3 long days.

what would you do?
also what days would you request not to work and why?

thanks!

OP posts:
jollybynamejollybynature · 17/02/2023 17:38

Would you usually work bank holidays?
If so I'd take Mondays off, that way you won't struggle with childcare with nurseries and childminders closing then too.

Id probably take a Monday or a Friday to give myself a long weekend, if they would allow you to do this)

LandlubbingKraken · 17/02/2023 17:42

Yes, definitely Mondays off! You'll then get more leave to take when it actually suits you.

JamMakingWannaBe · 17/02/2023 17:43

When DC were nursery age I worked 30 hours over 4 days with a Wednesday off to break up the week. My nursery was open on Bank Holidays so that wasn't a consideration.

RuthW · 17/02/2023 17:45

I would have a Wednesday off. That way you never work more than two days in a row.

LlynTegid · 17/02/2023 17:50

A pity you don't want to work on a Friday or cannot, as you will get a lot more respect if you do.

I do a four day week, have Monday off, 100% respected.

Boomboom22 · 17/02/2023 17:52

I like to leave early Mon to Wed and do full days later in the week. Easier to get places in childcare thurs and Fri as many people want those off.

SkankingWombat · 17/02/2023 17:55

Don't cut your hours to 80% FT however you structure it - they won't cut your workload and you'll be forever chasing your tail.

Beachhutnut · 17/02/2023 17:57

I think when they're in nursery and you have your Mum covering Fridays I would do 3 long days. You may as well get paid more and nursery is expensive. Agree take Mondays off. Working out bank holiday leave is a faff. You may want to reduce your hours to work in between school hours when your child is school age and it's easier to get work to agree to give you less hours than more. If you try the 3 long days and it's not working you can always reduce hours after you have tried it too.

Overthebow · 17/02/2023 18:02

LlynTegid · 17/02/2023 17:50

A pity you don't want to work on a Friday or cannot, as you will get a lot more respect if you do.

I do a four day week, have Monday off, 100% respected.

Why wouldn’t you be respected for not working a Friday? I don’t work Fridays and never had a problem with respect or anything else. Although from the OP it looks like she can work Fridays.

Original poster
Dogmum11 · 17/02/2023 18:12

I’ll be working Fridays as my mum will be covering childcare 😊

OP posts:
CatOnTheChair · 17/02/2023 18:21

How long is the commute?
9 hours of work, plus commuting may result in very little time with your child. Also, what nursery hours are available? Will you/DH be able to do drop offs and collections? We had very little choice in nursery as we needed a 7.30 drop off.

Original poster
Dogmum11 · 17/02/2023 18:34

Commute from home to work is 15/20 mins, nursery is on the work campus so literally seconds walk. Nursery is open 0745-1730 and husband would be able to do drop off, pick up or both

OP posts:
Morecrimblecrumble · 17/02/2023 19:27

0.7 across 4 days
2 dc in nursery 3 days (Tu We Th)

Chose this for a number of reasons:
I’m on the clock 4 days out of 5 so never really long absences with resulting massive back log- but 0.7 works better for us than 0.8.

Mondays are not a full working day for me (7am-10am covered by DH) and a non nursery day so I didn’t end up paying for bank hols where nursery was closed and still charging.

Will work well when older DC is at school as appears majority of inset days are Mondays at their school (and I’ll be able to drop off 4/5 days and pick up at 3pm 3/5 days).

It’s a juggle! good luck with deciding

20viona · 17/02/2023 19:42

@LlynTegid what the hell are you on about?!

I don't work Fridays so I must not be respected Hmm ridiculous statement.

Dacadactyl · 17/02/2023 19:49

I'd do 27 hours and have Mon and Tues off for a long weekend. This would be so I'd have more time with rhe kids.

drpet49 · 17/02/2023 20:04

LlynTegid · 17/02/2023 17:50

A pity you don't want to work on a Friday or cannot, as you will get a lot more respect if you do.

I do a four day week, have Monday off, 100% respected.

@LlynTegid eh, say what?

Emmamoo89 · 17/02/2023 20:09

Take Mondays off

LlynTegid · 17/02/2023 20:19

@Overthebow no one ever asks me to swap days, tries to hassle me last minute for 'urgent' things that would not be 'urgent' because you did not plan ahead.

JamMakingWannaBe · 17/02/2023 21:05

Dogmum11 · 17/02/2023 18:12

I’ll be working Fridays as my mum will be covering childcare 😊

Before COVID are more WFH /
flexible working arrangements, you could not get hold of a single person in HR, finance or admin support on a Friday at my place of work because that was their flexi working day off. Times and working patterns have changed but memories have not.

Overthebow · 18/02/2023 08:05

LlynTegid · 17/02/2023 20:19

@Overthebow no one ever asks me to swap days, tries to hassle me last minute for 'urgent' things that would not be 'urgent' because you did not plan ahead.

That never happens to me either, I’m not sure it’s the day of the week that has anything to do with it.

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