Does anyone do reduced hours at work?

[Anyonethere79836492834]

Hi all,

I have temporarily reduced my hours from 35 down to 28 while my toddler (just turned 2) is little, as I just don't think I can do full time. It would break me.

I'm really hoping that work will let me stay on this for another year or so, with a view to going back full time, as I am still fulfilling a 35 hour output, my workload hasn't reduced. Also there are other people in the company that work on reduced hours with small children or with health issues etc. I have a meeting with my manager about it today to discuss it.

Has anyone done this as well and were your company supportive of it? If they weren't, did you push for it? I'm not sure of my rights, or if I have any.

Thanks all.

Yes I work 4 days a week, my company is very supportive and let me choose my hours and days. It hasn’t hindered my career and lots of others work 4 days too.

You have a right to request flexible working hours of you have been working for the company for more than a year and they can only refuse if they can show that the role can't be done with flexible working.
Unless they are still paying you for 35 hours, they should be reducing your workload by 1/5. Are there obvious things which could be passed on to someone else?
Also, I found once I dropped to 3 days a week, I was suddenly no longer considered to be interested in my career and was only given shitty jobs to do. May not be true in all jobs but worth knowing.

How are you doing the same amount of work in that reduced time? I take it your pay has also been reduced? Your workload should be adjusted.

Otherwise, when you ask to return to full time, they may well say no, as all the work is being completed in your current hours. They have no objection to paying you less for the same amount of work. They'll object to paying you more again for the same amount of work. Don't shoot yourself in the foot here.

If you’re doing the same work load, you want compressed hours because then you’ll still get paid the same. You can ask to reduce your hours (and workload) and you can also ask to increase them later. However, if you’re working for free (doing 35hrs in 28) and they are getting a day free from you, why would they agree to pay you more for the same level of work in a few years?

It very much depends on the company culture. I dropped a day at a previous employer and my career completely stalled.

Where I work now is much more flexible. I'm working a full week here but I know other people who have adjusted their hours and it's not a problem.

I both reduced and compressed hours. From leaving home to start my working week, and returning home at the end of my working week is only 37hrs. Then I forget about work.
I coincided this with a pay rise and attend a monthly meeting so my take home is now about 60% of previous pay.
But there's no doubt my career is stalled. I think I could walk back into full time, or even a more 'present' work pattern and regain some momentum but tbh life's changed and I've changed with it. So I don't think that will happen now.

Why are you doing the same work for less pay, pension and annual leave.

They're exploiting you.