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Original poster

Part Time Hours!

14 replies

Jezzballs2000 · 26/06/2024 17:32

Looking for advice, I feel like I have seen posts on this but couldn't quite see what I needed. I can't seem to get my brain around it!

I currently work 3 days a day, 21 hours (9.30- 5.30pm, lunch not included). My son starts school in September and I have been told I can change my hours to be spread over 4 days. I do one day a week in the office so I think that would stay the full day. I just can't work out what the other 3 days should look like! Is it better

The school is 5 minutes walk away, his hours are 8.55 to 3.30pm. I am wondering what people recommend for the best balance? Maybe 9.15 - 3.15pm, (5 hrs not inc lunch) and then have a short Thursday 9.15 - 2.15pm for the last 4 hours. Or just have a long morning on Thursday? I'll have Friday off.

Am I allowing for stuff that comes up around drop off/ collection? At the moment I pick up from the playgroup in the same building and just head straight out once I have him... Any thoughts appreciated!

OP posts:
RiverF · 26/06/2024 17:35

Honestly if you can, keep the three days. The problem with working school hours is that no one else in the household notices you even go to work.

RiverF · 26/06/2024 17:37

Also, there is nothing more stressful than needing to leave work promptly for school pickup, especially when everyone else is still working and don't get it.

Roadaheadclear · 26/06/2024 17:41

I work school hours, totally brilliant for work life balance - just to counter the negativity.

I’d ask 9.30 - 3.10 (or however that splits) Gives you time to walk, chat, grab your stuff, not sprint to and from school.

chocolateisavegetable · 26/06/2024 17:46

I wouldn’t finish later than 3 or it’ll feel rushed. Could you take a shorter lunch? You probably won’t feel like you need an hour for lunch if you’re doing those hours

Chasingsquirrels · 26/06/2024 17:51

If you do go for 3 shorter days (at home) cut the lunch hour and just worn straight through if you can.

Will you be able to flex, eg work 3 full days in the holidays? This would make holiday cover easier.

I went from 3 full days (22.5hr) to 1 full + 3 part, but this was years ago and I was in the office so had more travel which is a pain with shorter days.

I now (kids grown up so no childcare issues) do 4 x 6hrs (work through with no lunch break). I flex this though, as long as the job gets done my employer doesn't care.

mummyuptheriver · 26/06/2024 17:58

RiverF · 26/06/2024 17:35

Honestly if you can, keep the three days. The problem with working school hours is that no one else in the household notices you even go to work.

This! I hated doing 4 days and changed to 3 full days with childcare. I still get to do drop off and pick up once a week.

Mumof1andacat · 26/06/2024 18:09

What holiday childcare is available in your area?

Original poster
Jezzballs2000 · 27/06/2024 11:52

Hey guys sorry for the slow response, I didn't see I had replies! Thank you so much.

I'd actually like to keep 3 days as suggested by @RiverF and @mummyuptheriver (is it an aquatic thing?!) but think for the first couple of terms at least it would be better to pick him up. He's young in the year and for his age, plus a lock down kid PLUS prob on the spectrum so watching with bated breath to see how Reception goes. I'd love to change my job as it's quite boring but it fits with my life right now.

Interesting suggestion to work through lunch, I think it might be the only chance I get to go to the gym which I've just started and enjoying for once.

I did worry about finishing later than 3 but making up that time on Thursday seemed worse... what do you all think of the below? I feel quite bleak looking at it...

•	Monday: 9:15 AM - 3:15 PM (6 hours including a 1-hour unpaid lunch break; 5 working hours)
•	Tuesday (Office Day): 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (8 hours including a 1-hour unpaid lunch break; 7 working hours)
•	Wednesday: 9:15 AM - 3:15 PM (6 hours including a 1-hour unpaid lunch break; 5 working hours)
•	Thursday: 9:15 AM - 1:15 PM (4 hours, no lunch break; 4 working hours)

Total Working Hours per Week
• Total: 21 hours

OP posts:
Original poster
Jezzballs2000 · 27/06/2024 11:54

Mumof1andacat · 26/06/2024 18:09

What holiday childcare is available in your area?

I think there is fairly good options though expensive. I'm lucky enough to have a very hands on pair of in laws grandparents who for the time being are picking him up on Tuesdays and planning to have him one day a week in the holidays. Don't really know about the world of camps etc yet

OP posts:
Original poster
Jezzballs2000 · 27/06/2024 11:55

Chasingsquirrels · 26/06/2024 17:51

If you do go for 3 shorter days (at home) cut the lunch hour and just worn straight through if you can.

Will you be able to flex, eg work 3 full days in the holidays? This would make holiday cover easier.

I went from 3 full days (22.5hr) to 1 full + 3 part, but this was years ago and I was in the office so had more travel which is a pain with shorter days.

I now (kids grown up so no childcare issues) do 4 x 6hrs (work through with no lunch break). I flex this though, as long as the job gets done my employer doesn't care.

I'm going to go and play around with the hours and work out what it would look like without a lunch break...

OP posts:
Chaosx3x · 27/06/2024 13:41

With those hours, on the Monday and Weds I would ask for just 30 mins lunch which will mean you’d work 5.5 hours on those days. Then you can either finish an hour earlier on Tuesdays to beat the traffic home on your office day or you can finish at 12.15 on a Thursday which I would then spend blitzing the house and doing all cleaning/sorting. This would leave you with Friday clear to yourself which to be honest as someone who is currently a SAHM to 3 under 5, would be absolute bliss 😂

OurChristmasMiracle · 27/06/2024 13:45

Firstly if you are working less than 6 hours you may not need to take a lunch break at all.

however if I could I would stick with 3 days a week. It may be possible to ask your employer to start later and then have wrap around care (if school provide it) for after school- however I understand this wouldn’t work necessarily for the first few weeks/months until child is settled.

FuzzyStripes · 27/06/2024 13:49

If you do want to do four days with one much shorter, I would speak to the school about whether they have any regular days for parents to help with forest school, reading, sports etc as you might want to volunteer.

Original poster
Jezzballs2000 · 27/06/2024 18:07

Thank you it's so helpful to hear different perspectives on it!

As I work at home except for Tuesday I might actually try out some of these scenarios in advance. At the moment the day really drags and I often find I'm not that productive in the afternoon so maybe skipping lunch and cracking on would work. That said I feel like I might h struggle to fit in the gym between finishing and pick up but I will give it a go!

OP posts:
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