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Original poster

Part time work on Fridays

46 replies

Starvey · 25/07/2025 12:57

I'm looking to go part time at work and debating which days to request. I want to drop to 3 days a week and I'm thinking working Wednesday-Friday which would give me a 4 day weekend every week but it wouldn't be off on Fridays which just seem so busy these days. However I can't help but think I'll get to a Friday and wish I wasn't working because it tends to be a shorter day where I work, yet I'd have to do a full day. I don't know anyone part time that works on a Friday so looking for people's views on how they find it?
I'm not sure I'd get that Friday feeling and by working the latter half of the week I don't know if I'd dread it more

OP posts:
Michele09 · 25/07/2025 13:02

I'd work Tues-Thurs in your case.

skippy67 · 25/07/2025 13:03

I work Tues to Friday. Love having Monday off and still get that Friday feeling! When I did a 3 day week, I worked Tues to Thurs which was fab.

SeriouslyNot · 25/07/2025 13:04

I work Thursdays and Fridays and love it! Everyone is in a better mood at the end of the week and I don't have the Sunday night fear

Mrsttcno1 · 25/07/2025 13:05

I work Friday and much prefer having the Monday off. Everyone is happier on a Friday!

FitnessIsTheOnlyWealth · 25/07/2025 15:00

Depends on your job, but having tried various PT hours, I’d always choose to work on Fridays and have other days off.

RigIt · 25/07/2025 15:24

Be careful taking Monday off. Check how your work does bank holidays. At my old place of work, if you didn’t work Mondays you didn’t get the bank holidays (bank holidays were in addition to annual leave). At my second place of work, you got more bookable holiday (ie to take at a time of your choosing) if you didn’t work Mondays (as leave included bank holidays) So check how they “do” bank holidays for part time staff where you work to see whether it is advantageous for you to work a Monday or not. At my first place of work most part time staff worked Mondays and in my second they didn’t work Mondays!

LlynTegid · 25/07/2025 15:26

I do four days and have Monday off. No one tries to persuade me to change that, I doubt they would if you did Wednesday to Friday.

Also if you are going away, often easier to come back on a Monday or Tuesday.

LlynTegid · 25/07/2025 15:26

RigIt · 25/07/2025 15:24

Be careful taking Monday off. Check how your work does bank holidays. At my old place of work, if you didn’t work Mondays you didn’t get the bank holidays (bank holidays were in addition to annual leave). At my second place of work, you got more bookable holiday (ie to take at a time of your choosing) if you didn’t work Mondays (as leave included bank holidays) So check how they “do” bank holidays for part time staff where you work to see whether it is advantageous for you to work a Monday or not. At my first place of work most part time staff worked Mondays and in my second they didn’t work Mondays!

There is a formula to cover this.

pearcrumblee · 25/07/2025 15:29

Less traffic on a Friday, a lot of WFH

skippy67 · 25/07/2025 15:47

RigIt · 25/07/2025 15:24

Be careful taking Monday off. Check how your work does bank holidays. At my old place of work, if you didn’t work Mondays you didn’t get the bank holidays (bank holidays were in addition to annual leave). At my second place of work, you got more bookable holiday (ie to take at a time of your choosing) if you didn’t work Mondays (as leave included bank holidays) So check how they “do” bank holidays for part time staff where you work to see whether it is advantageous for you to work a Monday or not. At my first place of work most part time staff worked Mondays and in my second they didn’t work Mondays!

I get Bank Holidays pro rata. I generally take mine on the Tuesday.

LifeBeginsToday · 25/07/2025 15:58

I work 4 days and have Wednesday off. I love the mid week break.

Medee · 25/07/2025 16:01

LifeBeginsToday · 25/07/2025 15:58

I work 4 days and have Wednesday off. I love the mid week break.

Me too. I get loads of admin done midweek and I'm never feeling stressed on a Thursday and Friday.

LeedsZebra90 · 25/07/2025 16:07

I felt behind before the week had even started by not working Mondays, Wednesday is ideal on a weekly basis but Friday makes most sense for a long weekend.

Original poster
Starvey · 25/07/2025 16:10

RigIt · 25/07/2025 15:24

Be careful taking Monday off. Check how your work does bank holidays. At my old place of work, if you didn’t work Mondays you didn’t get the bank holidays (bank holidays were in addition to annual leave). At my second place of work, you got more bookable holiday (ie to take at a time of your choosing) if you didn’t work Mondays (as leave included bank holidays) So check how they “do” bank holidays for part time staff where you work to see whether it is advantageous for you to work a Monday or not. At my first place of work most part time staff worked Mondays and in my second they didn’t work Mondays!

Yes will need to look into this but the few people that do work part time don't work Mondays so I'd assume it's more advantageous not to work Mondays

OP posts:
Original poster
Starvey · 25/07/2025 16:12

pearcrumblee · 25/07/2025 15:29

Less traffic on a Friday, a lot of WFH

This was my thinking as to why it would be good to work a Friday. I previously had every other Friday off and everywhere just seemed busier than midweek because people either have it off or are working from home and therefore can be places where they would otherwise be commuting

OP posts:
Original poster
Starvey · 25/07/2025 16:13

SeriouslyNot · 25/07/2025 13:04

I work Thursdays and Fridays and love it! Everyone is in a better mood at the end of the week and I don't have the Sunday night fear

Definitely want to avoid Sunday night fear and feel like there'll be less pressure on the Friday because people leave things until the following week!

OP posts:
StampOnTheGround · 25/07/2025 16:21

I work Tues-Thurs and love it

taxguru · 25/07/2025 16:37

RigIt · 25/07/2025 15:24

Be careful taking Monday off. Check how your work does bank holidays. At my old place of work, if you didn’t work Mondays you didn’t get the bank holidays (bank holidays were in addition to annual leave). At my second place of work, you got more bookable holiday (ie to take at a time of your choosing) if you didn’t work Mondays (as leave included bank holidays) So check how they “do” bank holidays for part time staff where you work to see whether it is advantageous for you to work a Monday or not. At my first place of work most part time staff worked Mondays and in my second they didn’t work Mondays!

The law is clear that someone working Mondays shouldn't be disadvantaged due to bank holidays. If that's happening to you, then your employer is doing it wrong!

But sometimes people who don't work Mondays have more flexible holidays as they are still entitled to the same pro rata number of holiday days, but can take them any time, whereas Monday workers often have to take bank holiday Mondays as holiday days as part of their entitlement whether they want the day off or not.

OnGoldenPond · 25/07/2025 21:24

Public transport (at least in London) much less busy on Fridays.

OnGoldenPond · 25/07/2025 21:28

RigIt · 25/07/2025 15:24

Be careful taking Monday off. Check how your work does bank holidays. At my old place of work, if you didn’t work Mondays you didn’t get the bank holidays (bank holidays were in addition to annual leave). At my second place of work, you got more bookable holiday (ie to take at a time of your choosing) if you didn’t work Mondays (as leave included bank holidays) So check how they “do” bank holidays for part time staff where you work to see whether it is advantageous for you to work a Monday or not. At my first place of work most part time staff worked Mondays and in my second they didn’t work Mondays!

Well, your first employer was breaking the law. Part time workers cannot be put in the position of getting less paid leave because of the days they work. They must get pro rata additional annual leave allowance for bank holidays that fall on their non working days.

youreactinglikeafunmum · 25/07/2025 21:29

I'd say weds to friday as well

Friday will feel like a shorter day, much shorter than a monday will x

januarysnowdrop · 25/07/2025 21:31

I really like working on Fridays: much less hectic in the office & I get a lot more done.

Acropolis49 · 25/07/2025 21:32

I work 4 days and love working Fridays, everyone is in friday mood, and I always go into the office as it is quiet, fewer queries, just more relaxed. Many work at home on Fridays but i prefer to go into the office and have a Thursday WFH which is manic with teams meetings anyway.

Morwkoob · 26/07/2025 13:09

I do a three day week but Monday, Tuesday & Friday. It feels like I get an extra weekend mid week which I personally love. I get to do baby groups one day and shopping, housework etc the other day (what i manage with a toddler around). It means my weekends with my partner off are full family time.

ExploringDreams · 26/07/2025 13:15

I love to get my work over and done with at the beginning of the week. My Fridays off are excellent. Quite a few of my friends also have Fridays off so I can meet people, sort out laundry, cleaning, food shop and have a chilled weekend.