Help me decide what to do.

[LousyGolfer]

I’ve been with my company for eight years and have recently moved into another department which means I can now look at flexible working options. I currently work full time (37.5/hrs a week, 52 weeks a year with 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays).

My company offers flexible working where you “buy” blocks of leave- either 4, 6, 8, 10, or 13 weeks. Salary is then leveled monthly over 12 months so the cost to me is spread. There’s also the option to go part-time, either to 4 or 3 days per week. You can’t go part-time and then also “buy” leave blocks.

For the blocks of leave, you can either use the leave (in agreement with your line manager) to reduce your working week (so do a 3-day week during school midterm only maybe, or opt for a nine-day fortnight). It can also be used as blocks of leave- meaning I could take additional blocks of holidays/take additional weeks during the summer etc.

I am thinking of going for a 6-week block as this is very manageable financially. My existing/contractual annual leave will be pro-rata, as will my salary and annual bonus. Company pension contribution will also reduce.

Obviously, I need to discuss with my manager but I want to have a strong idea myself of what’s best. I’m thinking of using the majority of the 30 days (eg, the six week block) to go down to a nine-day fortnight. The rest I would take as blocks to allow for some additional weeks off during the year. I don’t have childcare considerations so don’t have to be prescriptive about needing fixed periods off, but I do have a hobby (username is a giveaway!) that I’d like to focus on. Plus, I’m 48 and tired!

Priorities for me are:
Less time working- I’m tired!
More time for hobbies.
More time for travel.

In my shoes, what would you do-

Nine-day fortnight with the remaining days of leave used to take more holidays during the year.

Don’t reduce to a shorter working week/fortnight but take the six weeks as blocks to really maximize holiday time out of the office.

Other?

If you work a nine-day fortnight, how do you find it? I manage a big team but they’re all brilliant and self-sufficient so I don’t have concerns about them not coping. Some of them work part-time and we all manage our time and each other’s very well.

If you do a nine-day fortnight, what day do you not work?

In the last four or five years of working (I'm retired now) I did a nine day day fortnight and loved it.

I did it mainly because It was the commute ( one and half hours each way on a good day, and good days were few and far between) and I did extra hours during the nine days I was working. So my salary, and my pension, were not affected.

Like you, my staff were self sufficient, so I had no concerns about the team.

I took every other Friday off. It was a godsend. Knowing I had that "extra" day kept me going.

If go for it, whatever combination you use, but do have a thought for how what you choose could affect your pension.

Thanks @user1471453601. I’m well covered on the pension front, thankfully.

I’m going to apply for a 9-day fortnight, I’ve decided. From an initial chat with my director, he’s supportive so should be all systems go. Hoping to start from December.

Now to get myself into a mindset where o use my time off productively, and not sleep til 9 and doomscroll in bed until 11.