Have you ever regretted dropping days even when financial impact not a factor?

[DrNow]

I’ll try to keep this brief. I’m 40, female, married, no children. I have a well paid but stressful job. Husband is also well paid but I earn marginally more.

Living situation is that we own our home outright. Have savings etc. and good pensions, no debt.

My employer has introduced a range of flexible working options which means that I could drop down to part time. I’m considering a four day week. Financially, I can take the hit and I already pay AVCs on my pension but can up those to make up for a shortfall. DH is supportive.

Another option would be to continue on 5 days a week but only work 40 weeks a year so could take extended leave throughout the year which would allow me to travel more.

I have a niggle at the back of my head saying that I’m only 40 and able to work full time so I really should- make hay while the sun shines etc.

Just wondering if anyone has dropped a day/days and had any regrets (other than the income drop)?

In my shoes, which would you go for- 4 day week, or 5 days x 40 weeks?

Sounds amazing and I would absolutely do it if it was an option.
Do you travel alone or have someone outside of your husband to travel with? I'd prefer the 40 weeks of 5 days for travel purposes.

I do 5 days work for 4 days pay. Will you be the same? I am a senior manager in a professional role.

The extra time is lovely but expectations at work are no lower. I get on with it because of future (hopeful) career progression.

Bank Holiday weeks are incredibly stressful, three days to do a week's work!

I'd go for the extra annual leave personally. Then you can choose your time off.
Do it. You'll pay a lot less tax anyway.

Fucking hell why would you not.

I’m staying at four days when my kid goes to school and I have debts and a mortgage. If I was financially secure I’d be enjoying life a bit.

I work 4 days and have since I went back after maternity leave. It's worth considering what your workload would be in an 80% contract. In my case I'd say i still have a full time workload and so need to make some sacrifices along the way... some things don't get done, some get done less well, and sometimes it can be tricky to fit in the things you want to do, such as learning and development. It works for me, I'm content to say what I can and can't do and can maintain my work- life boundaries, but not everyone manages this. It would be worth asking your employers how they would ensure your role was only an 80% role and ensuring you are comfortable that it will work, particularly given you said it's a stressful role. I think it is clearer on 3 days as the workload would be more easily downscaled appropriately.

I don't regret it though, I like to have a day for me to do as I please (DD is now at school).

This is amazing!!! No guilt. Just go with your gut on what you want. - extended weekends or a chunk of travelling/rest bite 🙌

The 40 week option is far better. Otherwise you'll be cramming four days work in to 5.

Also enjoy your life now. You don't know what the future holds and no-one is guaranteed tomorrow.

I don't regret it but down sides other than financial is that you often don't get a lower workload and you are often viewed as lacking commitment and so less likely to get pay rises or promotions.

I'm sure not every job is like that but given your options I agree extra leave is better than saying 'I can't do that meeting, I work part time'.

Personally in your shoes I’d take the 5 days x 40 weeks. When I did 4 days a week with small child (but using up annual leave so no financial impact) I still had 100% of the workload and just felt the rest of the week was “crammed” and was still feeling like I needed to check emails on the Friday etc., not like I was fully off

I would go for 40 weeks in the year and make use of the time to travel. Dropping a day means doing 5 days work in 4 ime.

Is there another option where you pay your 5th day of pay into your pension and get the option to retire earlier. That would mean if you have 25 years left you get to reduce that to 20 and so get 5 whole years off.

What has happened to me in my 50s is that I have got a lot more focused on that than going part time or having lots of leave.

I'd definitely choose the 40 x 5 days.

I have 10 weeks off a year and absolutely love it!
it is such a great balance for my life!

I would do it if you can afford to, life is short and you never know what's around the corner.
I was 4 days a week when my children were younger, i would have loved to stay at those hours but I had to go back to full time financially. I am not ruling out dropping a day when I'm older and mortgage free though!
If you want to travel I'd do the 40 weeks holiday option I think. You can always change it in a few years.

Travel would predominantly be with husband but he gets a lot of leave and works fully remotely for a multinational so can work from abroad, if he wanted to.

Even just the idea of going on holiday and then coming home and having some more downtime would be lovely!

This is my fear. Professional role, senior manager, very big team and a very challenging organisation.

I worry I’ll be chasing my tails and constantly glued to my work phone on my unpaid day off.

I have done 3 variations of part time work (and in fact have worked part time on and off since a year after university, to manage a health condition but also just for quality of life).

I've done working 37/42 weeks a year, working 4 days a week (90% hours) and 4 days a week 100% hours. I've never done a "normal" 4 day week.

I much prefer working 4 days a week to 5, but I wouldn't want to work 80% over 4 days as you end up doing a full time job but getting 80% of the pay. 90% was the best compromise for flexibility - that way you can work 8-5 ish (which I used to do, at least, anyway) and if you need to knock off early or whatever one day it doesn't mess with your hours too much.

I'm currently on 100% over 4 days just because there's so much on that I was building up excess hours all the time but that's not great for work life balance.

I hated the job I had when I worked 42 weeks a year but I loved, and still miss, the work pattern. I used to do things like join in with local am dram performances (backstage!) because I could spare the time to take the full week off for the performances and a couple of days after to recover. It's a nightmare trying to do shows after you've been at work all day so I don't really do it now I have changed jobs and no longer have all that leave.

Overall it would be a toss up for me if they offered 90% over 4 days or 40 weeks a year, but if it's 80% over 4 days or 40 weeks a year I would do the latter.

@HVPRN I’m sorry to be that person, but it’s “respite”, not rest bite.

@DrNow I would do 40 weeks then you’ll always have it to look forward to.

If you reduce your hours, specify what work will be delegated

Omg no - NO REGRETS and I have no intention of ever going back to full time. Life is too short

I’m going to assume you’re public sector if you pay AVCs? Some of my colleagues do a 9-day fortnight which is tempting but they do compressed hours rather than dropping hours. I am seriously tempted to drop a day a fortnight but the work wouldn’t reduce accordingly - nobody else does my job and we’re on a recruitment freeze, so the work would just pile up (I’m struggling as it is).

No, I’m not public sector. Private with a defined contribution pension that I pay into, my employer pays into, and then I add a tax-free voluntary contribution on top.

Me too!

Why would you work more than you need to unless you really, really love your job. Do it!