Would you do more hours for less money for a term time only contract?

[Zippidydoodah]

Maybe a clumsy title but just that.

Part time all year round, or full time hours but term time only, and for less money?

I have to decide if I want to give up my days off in the week to be off all the school holidays. I have some people saying it’s a complete no-brainer but I’d like a balanced range of views, if possible?

thank you!

Do you have school age kids? Also how many hours is the part time job? I think weighing it up I’d take the part time hours if it paid more but it depends what the hours are (a 2 day week is a different commitment to a 4 day week say).

Perhaps look at the total figure you will have once you take into account any childcare you need to pay out for holiday clubs. Then I would also weight up whether it’s more important to have all the school holidays off or just some (this probably depends largely on whether your children enjoy holiday clubs or not).

I do have two in primary and two in secondary.

3 days currently all year round.

thanks for the replies!

My youngest hates holiday club but will tolerate it if a friend goes with him, which is not always possible. 😢

Depends a lot on the household dynamic and DH. To work full time all year round and then be expected to wrangle young kids with no break and time to yourself ever or to get things done and DH never taking them for a day-and never a day at a holiday club. TBH that would break me. It could be exhausting so i’d proceed with caution. Would DH still do half the chores in the week and give you a break at weekends when you are ‘off’?

I do term time only as my child with asd has no care options in the holidays.

I much preferred my previous work pattern of 3 days a week, all year round and being able to chose annual leave.

Depends on other factors:
How do you currently manage holidays?(is it super stressful and barely cope or lots of family support)
what is your DH like?
How much less money?

What are the career implications for both?

On the face of it I would much prefer 3 days all year round, you have free time of your own, can choose your AL, and earn more. Unless it is a nightmare to find childcare for the primary aged kids I would not give it up.

I have just done exactly that!

I did this but actually when you have primary school aged children working term time only (if you’re five days a week that is) its a real pain. You can’t get time off for the many school events esp at Christmas and July when there’s a billion things to go and watch at school, it’s also a nightmare when they are sick.

I preferred working 3 or 4 days a week all year and would stick with this if money is better.

How’s it going so far?!

Thabks for the replies.

my partner doesn’t do a lot and never has. Hr works long hours and is away a lot. In fact, he’s barely taken any time off to have the kids since I’ve been working all year round 🙄

not much less money- roughly the same to be honest.

i do worry that having people around 24/7 with no time to myself might impact me badly, to be honest.

Term time working sounds ideal to make juggling the holidays work. But I think as long as you can make the holidays work with holiday clubs and annual leave I wouldn’t change. It’s nice to have the flexibility to use annual leave when you can even though mine has been swallowed up all on holidays this year.

Can you take annual leave during the term time?

I’m so glad I posted here! Everyone I’ve spoken to in real life has said “think of the children!” Not in so many words but you know whet I mean! Will never get this time back, etc etc (in favour of term time only).

In the new potential job, no!

Can you increase your hours at your current job? I would consider going to 4 days a week and then taking parental leave over the summer holidays. You can take up to 4 weeks unpaid leave per year (up to a maximum of 18 weeks altogether I think). I would take this over the summer and the extra day would offset the missed wages.

This is interesting. Has anyone actually done this? How do employers react to the request to take 4 weeks off unpaid every year? Unfortunately there are no extra hours in my current role.

I have done it before (I took 2 weeks). It’s not that commonly done, but it is a legal entitlement, so they cannot refuse. They can refuse specific dates but need to give alternatives.
My work were absolutely fine about it, but then we have flexi and you can buy extra annual leave, so really it isn’t much different to that.

No. It’s not really that helpful.

You will be extremely limited to what you can take off in term time- appointments, sickness etc. You are shafted on at least 5 INSET days and if the various schools don’t aline.
In addition to less money you are only free at the most expensive/busy times if the year- weekends and school holidays. Stupid things like Christmas shopping ibecome very difficult when theres no give in the hours.

Ok, definitely something to think about! Thanks!

we could do with more money, not less.

another scenario that’s been posed to me is working 37 hours all year round. Double the money, but how much more stress?!

I am rubbish at making decisions!

Financially, look at the overall picture. After correcting for holiday club costs etc.

Also, consider the secondary age side and parental availability after school, for homework support and supervision, friendship issues etc. Term time 5 days a week but not around much after school vs 3 days a week year round and home two after schools a week. That regular in week availability might actually be ‘better’ from a ‘think of the children’ perspective.

All really valid points, thank you. This is such a tough decision!

Zippidydoodah
Ive sent you a message.

Thank you! I just have to pop out to get my daughter but will be back soon to reply 😊