Reducing hours? What benefit have you seen?

[snazzychair]

For those of you who have reduced working hours, what benefit to your life have you seen?

Whether you are a parent who has reduced hours, or not a parent but have reduced hours for mental health purposes.

[CandlelightGlow]

@snazzychair

I just like knowing what has helped other people. Im also looking just to drop an hour a day or so, that would really help with just keeping on top of things and helping with homework etc

I worked 1 hour a day less for about a year (FT contract 35 hours, I worked 30 per week) and that was nice, though I still missed both school runs as we had short opening times in that office (8:30 - 430) so I wasn't really able to flex around either school run.

So I would say there are still variables on how beneficial it is based on your commute time and the actual hours you can work, but overall it's surprising how much difference doing 9 - 4 instead of 9 - 5 can make in terms of feeling more on top of the day to day.

[Alphabet1spaghetti2]

@Overthebloodymoon if Dh dropped dead (today or tomorrow ). My plan would be to pick up either extra hours where I am or more likely, a one day per week extra job - purely for a reason to get up.
Financially either of us would be ok if either of died, it would be the mental/emotional aspect that would be the difficulty.
Dh is much much happier being the higher earner. I was once the far higher earner (yes I did have a career fwiw). The downside was we both suffered mentally as did our relationship.
There isn’t a one size suits all option. Wonderfully everyone has differing needs/abilities/family dynamics! Sometimes it really is a case of doing what’s best right now, because this is what you are living, tomorrow may never come, and if it does - deal with it then. I’m not saying a little forward planning is not useful, but deal with today first.

[CandlelightGlow]

Sorry I also did a similar pattern though, 9:30 - 4 and that was quite handy. In terms of pay it's obviously not dissimilar to working 1 full day less a week, and honestly I actually preferred having the extra full day off in terms of home life, but you do feel more like a "full timer" being in the office each day in terms of career benefits.

[mamnotmum]

I love it. 3 days contract and often work 4 but it gives me time to be with the kids. Time to do housework. And time to just live!

If you can afford it - do it!

[Orangebadger]

Love not working full time! Initially after 1st DD dropped from full time to 24 hrs a week over 2 days. A lot less stressful, less juggling. After DS dropped initially to 12 hrs a week and have gradually increased back to 24 hrs a week, he's now 5. For us we don't have any family around to help with the odd pick up here and there so this meant no child care and less juggling g between mine and my OHs job. We are lucky in that we are both in jobs where we can easily do overtime and get good annual leave, so can do extra if we need more money.

Even when DC are older I have

[Orangebadger]

Posted too soon! I have no intention of working more than 30 hrs a week unless it was financially essential.

[Firsttimemum120]

i went from working full time at the local hospital to maternity leave and then planned to go back for two 8 hour days a week. I hated the job anyway always had done it was the people and covid that kept me there.

So when a job came up at the local school for a lunch time supervisor doing 1.5 hours a a day term time only I took it. I send my daughter to the childminders two days a week and I’m sending her for 3 after Easter which will be the perfect work/home balance because honestly having the days to myself while she is at the childminders helps wonders. She learns so much from being there and I feel so excited for the days we do get to spend together. Although In the holidays I will probably send her for 2 even though I’ll be paying for 3.

the decrease in my wages has increased my benefits and right now that is okay. It won’t be like it forever but I’m hoping to work my way up in the school.

[Fundays12]

I did it a few years ago for our kids. I wanted to be able to do drop off and pick ups at school, homework, activities, after school park trips, lots of days out with friends and there kids in the holidays etc plus dc1 has additional support needs so needed me home far more. It's been great overall. The kids enjoy it and we do a lot together. DH has them the hours I do work so one of us is always around. The only downside has been we haven't been able to afford a holiday abroad but still have had UK holidays. The kids often tell me they love me being home and we have no childcare stresses but I think it's only better if you prefer being home with the kids and are happy to spend lots of time doing activities, cleaning up, organising etc.

[snazzychair]

@Overthebloodymoon

Interesting thread. For those who rely on high earning partners, what would you do if they left or, God forbid, dropped down dead? Does your partner ever resent having to carry the financial load? We have always earned roughly the same (both like our careers), split all school runs and housework etc, so I’d find it very odd to become a housewife and rely on DH financially.

Who is saying to become a house wife? Also nothing wrong with that that's what people prefer. My husband can work from home so we share the pick ups and drop offs. We share the load but for me to be able to reduce my hours would mean a bit of headspace too, even for a short while.

[Fundays12]

@Orangebadger

Love not working full time! Initially after 1st DD dropped from full time to 24 hrs a week over 2 days. A lot less stressful, less juggling. After DS dropped initially to 12 hrs a week and have gradually increased back to 24 hrs a week, he's now 5. For us we don't have any family around to help with the odd pick up here and there so this meant no child care and less juggling g between mine and my OHs job. We are lucky in that we are both in jobs where we can easily do overtime and get good annual leave, so can do extra if we need more money.

Even when DC are older I have

We have family nearby but none that will help us with the odd school pick up etc. This was a major deciding factor in the decision.

[Justhereforaibu1]

@Coffeecoffeeinmytummy

I dropped from full time to 24 hours and to be honest I haven’t found that it’s reduced my stress at all. This is mainly because I now look after 1 year old DD on my days off and also pick 4 year old up from preschool which in all honesty is more stressful than being at work 😂 I don’t find I can get anything done really as DD is a whirlwind and I can’t turn my back for more than a minute without her emptying the cupboards/scaling the furniture/drawing on the walls etc. It would be a different story if I had time off where they were both at school/nursery but that’s a luxury that not many people can afford as you have the double whammy of having to pay for childcare and not be earning.

This it the thing isn't it

[Greenbirdies]

I dropped half a day starting this year but split the saved time so I can finish at 4.

I did make sure to keep paying enough into my pension. It's an essential, everyone should factor it in as they would with all other expenses when working out if they can afford to be part time.

I'm not sure if I've done the right thing finishing early rather than having a half day off. I am less rushed but it's amazing how many boring household tasks appear or expand to fill that extra time. I feel like I might appreciate a half day off more.

[Orangebadger]

@Fundays12 yes I understand having able family nearby doesn't equal help. Both of our families live overseas, if they lived local to us I know they would help. I see so many grandparents at pick up and drop off, it's sad that some families won't help out on occasions as benefits the children as well parents.

[Fuctifin0]

I start half an hour late and finish an hour early a day. Initially this was to facilitate dropping off and picking up the children. Dh worked away for 5 years and no family close by, so it was all down to me.
Now they have left school and I love missing the school traffic and having a bit more time to sort tea out in an evening.
I won't go back to fulltime now unless finances dictated that I had to.

[Fundays12]

@Orangebadger

@Fundays12 yes I understand having able family nearby doesn't equal help. Both of our families live overseas, if they lived local to us I know they would help. I see so many grandparents at pick up and drop off, it's sad that some families won't help out on occasions as benefits the children as well parents.

Unfortunately it doesn't though in our case it's more dh family who are on our door step will help favoured family members while ignoring our struggles. My family can't help unfortunately as they live too far away and some are abroad.

[Blankscreen]

I work 30 hrs over 5 days and can do school pick ups with using breakfast club. I had a 8 year career break but was lucky to be able to return to my old job.

DH works crazy long hours but earns £££. It's very stressful with us both working and Dh keep mentioning me resigning but I am conscious that we only have a few years left of primary aged DC and then I'll be left with no purpose.

I think my ideal would be 3 days a week but unfortunately my sector doesn't really allow for that.

I think when younger DC is at senior school I might change my hours to have a day off a week but for now I like finishing early and picking up (and the driving round all evening to various clubs).

BEFORE anyone says DH should flex his hours he can't.....

[Gwen82]

@Overthebloodymoon

Interesting thread. For those who rely on high earning partners, what would you do if they left or, God forbid, dropped down dead? Does your partner ever resent having to carry the financial load? We have always earned roughly the same (both like our careers), split all school runs and housework etc, so I’d find it very odd to become a housewife and rely on DH financially.

Life assurance.

about £1million here if my high earner conked it!

[Gwen82]

when I was married and sahm - I would have been recipient of £1mil if he’d died

now he’s my ex, and I receive a very substantial maintenance alongside my part time job

[SplunkPostGres]

The knock-on effect of this is that it’s usually women who reduce hours and take on more home responsibilities, which means as a woman in the workplace I’m completing with men who can completely compartmentalise their work and home life. I’m more in favour of universally applicable workplace policies for example 4 day week, so it’s not men one again being facilitated in the workplace by a partner at home.

[Gwen82]

@SplunkPostGres

The knock-on effect of this is that it’s usually women who reduce hours and take on more home responsibilities, which means as a woman in the workplace I’m completing with men who can completely compartmentalise their work and home life. I’m more in favour of universally applicable workplace policies for example 4 day week, so it’s not men one again being facilitated in the workplace by a partner at home.

i view it very differently

I feel for men that would seem much more trickier for them to go part time due to workplace culture and tradition.

I wouldn’t swap to full time for pretty much anything!

[Alphabet1spaghetti2]

@SplunkPostGres I am a little confused!
Do you want a four day week to be the accepted norm rather than a five day (m-f) week? Or do you mean that part time hours should be offered to both men and women - because afaik it would be discrimination to only offer or time to one group and not the other assuming all other business needs were equal. ?

[Africa2go]

@SplunkPostGres

The knock-on effect of this is that it’s usually women who reduce hours and take on more home responsibilities, which means as a woman in the workplace I’m completing with men who can completely compartmentalise their work and home life. I’m more in favour of universally applicable workplace policies for example 4 day week, so it’s not men one again being facilitated in the workplace by a partner at home.

I think this is spot on - I know a couple where they both work 9 days over a 10 day / 2 working weeks. Their working pattern means the family does a 4 day week but they share that responsibility. The replies on here are that in some cases, a reduction in hours for the woman is necessary because 2 FT jobs are causing issues. It's very rarely the man who reduces his hours.

I understand that in some cases, economically it makes sense for one partner to reduce their hours but we should never have the mindset that it's the woman that compromises.

For all the quotes of my earlier reply saying life is for living and more than about a career, I get that completely. All I'm saying is think about the long term economic consequences, not just the short term gains. With the divorce rate high and people living longer, financial independence / provision for old age is really important.

[MeganTheeScallion]

@snazzychair yes I think for me maybe the extra hour at the end of a day could take the edge off the DC having a very long day in after school club and nursery? DP would do morning drop off either way. Hoping we can manage without breakfast club

I am the 'higher earner' but only by a grand or so, and we both earn under £30k each, so we're not on the bones of our arses but we're not flush. I'm looking to go for promotion within a year but I'm NHS so it's not as frowned upon to do reduced hours as your career progresses as it might be in other workplaces.

So much to think about! Why can't just one bit of parenting be stress free?!

[SplunkPostGres]

I’m in favour of both sexes being able to balance work-life and due to cultural factors etc., it needs to be through policy intervention such as a standard 4 day work week (for all) to allow men to take their part in family life. I’m likewise keen on scandi style shared parental leave where both parents have non-interchangeable and separate periods of leave following childbirth; it normalises the notion that men have family obligations too.