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Original poster

Wondering about two part-time jobs instead of one full-time?

21 replies

cloverpots · 26/10/2023 18:35

Does anyone out there have 2 part-time jobs instead of one full-time role?
If so, can I ask what you do and the hours worked for each, please?

I'm mid 50s, always worked in general office admin roles but feel a little jaded. A similar aged neighbour mentioned she has 2 Mon-Fri jobs; receptionist in the morning followed by an early evening cleaning job. She thoroughly enjoys both, loves having the afternoons to herself and it's got me wondering if lots of folk do this?

OP posts:
cowgirl42 · 26/10/2023 18:47

Hi, I think it works quite well. Nice to do two different things. I don’t know if it’s the same as it used to be but you used to get to NI allowances so say you could earn two lots of £100 before paying NI. I have done two jobs on and off in the past I have been self employed for years now and I have recently started an employed job part time now my children are at school.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 26/10/2023 19:59

I knew someone who did this although it was not by choice. It was a nightmare trying to coordinate A/L between both jobs. She was sent on a business trip for one of the jobs. They did pay her pro rata additional hours, but she had to take A/L from the other job to be able to go.

princesspeppax · 26/10/2023 20:26

I do, childcare during the day and retail at evenings/weekends.

Changethetoner · 26/10/2023 20:29

It can be frustrating - as both employers expect you to do training and professional development (in my line of work), so there's a lot of duplication.

Spendonsend · 26/10/2023 20:36

I have more than one part time job. I do like having the variety and it feels more secure as Im unlikely to lose all my jobs.

Difficulties are the tax isnt always easy to sort.

I ended up not qualifying for any employers pension scheme as each didnt earn the threshold for them to contribute. I have negotiated hard to sort this.

Its an absolute pain remembering lots of sets of passwords

Original poster
cloverpots · 26/10/2023 22:05

Thanks for the replies - what jobs do you actually do, please?

OP posts:
scrivette · 27/10/2023 08:04

I do, I work in an admin based role for 3 days and in finance for one day. (So still part time). I do enjoy it, although I am paid on a casual basis for the finance role so that I can take time off/work reduced hours to cover childcare during the holidays.

ConflictofInterest · 27/10/2023 08:23

I used to do this. I did an office job 3 days a week and then a very active care work role on Saturdays. I enjoyed the variety but sorting out the tax codes was a pain and I also didn't qualify to pay into a pension at either place like a pp mentionned. Also I had a lot of training for the care work role that I had to take AL from my office job for. I was young at the time so I did like feeling I had two career options though and was getting experience in both. It helped me to feel less bored in either role too.

Oblomov23 · 27/10/2023 08:26

I've had 2 part time jobs for the last 15 years. Never been a problem. Tax is easy. Can't see the issue, why would tax be hard?

CMOTDibbler · 27/10/2023 08:44

A few early retirees I know have a few part time jobs going on - one for instance is a cycling instructor, lecturer at a local college (only does a couple of modules), and does sports commentary. All are very defined times in the year, and the sports and cycling they can pick and choose.

Oneblindmouse · 27/10/2023 08:48

I have a friend who does this. She does care work Monday to Friday, has Saturday off and has a paid role for a charity on Sunday.

Hipnotised · 27/10/2023 08:56

Yes. My SIL works in a dentist's Mon-Weds and as a hotel receptionist Thu-Fri.

When one wanted to change the days it was difficult, she considered leaving until they decided to keep things as they were.

Original poster
cloverpots · 27/10/2023 14:20

Thanks again, I'm going to give this some serious consideration.

OP posts:
cafesandbookshops · 28/10/2023 16:42

I can’t give any advice but Ive also thought about doing the same thing. I left full time teaching due to stress and workload but miss some aspects of teaching. I’m going to do a masters in SEN to retrain and have thought about getting a part time teaching role and part time intervention role but not sure how this would work if I was at two different schools as they change your teaching timetable every year. 😕

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 28/10/2023 16:50

@cafesandbookshops I spent a few years teaching part time and working in a different education role for a different organisation part time. My school were happy to stick to the days I was working part time, though it wasn't written into my contract.

It allowed me to move full time to the second role in the end, though this took a few years and school would have been happy for me to work pt in the long term.

It worked well, though in general I found having two jobs a ballache in some ways - juggling email accounts, trying to be available for both jobs (to make my life easier), working more than full-time hours. But on the whole I'm very glad I did it

Isthisexpected · 28/10/2023 16:52

Absolutely love having two part time and for a few years three part time jobs. It meant none of the politics or stress really got to me as I knew I'd be out of there soon.

PlantDoctor · 28/10/2023 16:56

I worked two jobs before and it was exhausting. I did 9-2, then a break, then 5-11. I was working hard to pay off student overdraft at the time, hence the long hours. I didn't have much free time and the gap between jobs was only really enough to get changed, eat and maybe take a quick nap.

cafesandbookshops · 28/10/2023 17:14

Thank you for this @TheBitchOfTheVicar it’s interesting it seems those who find it tiring were doing two different jobs in one day which I can imagine would be stressful.

I think two or max three days teaching with some SEN or speech and language intervention the rest of the time could be good though. I’m doing the MSC next year so I need to then be careful how I go about it!

Original poster
cloverpots · 28/10/2023 20:48

I'd definitely need to have a manageable gap between jobs if both were daily. My neighbour seems to have struck lucky, her reception role is 8:30 to 12:30 and she cleans between 6-7:30pm.

OP posts:
ACynicalDad · 24/11/2023 07:49

I think it depends on the level of job. Some say a part time job never fits in its hours especially if you are the sole person doing it in the org. I rarely contact part time workers outside their hours but just occasionally it is necessary. There are projects where a bit of flex is needed to make part time work long term. Is unlikely to happen with a cleaning/retail combo where there are probably others that can cover, but might in something a bit managerial.

GuffyTheDustBuster · 24/11/2023 07:54

A few years ago I worked for the local council Mon Thurs Friday- and did admin for a hotel Tues and Weds. That was OK.
Different jobs am and pm is harder I think

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