Which days to work

[Bella1905]

I am going back to my work soon in a Monday-Friday corporate style office (although can wfh sometimes) after mat leave soon and plan to work 4 days. I’m thinking about either having a Wednesday or Friday off (a Wednesday to break up the week, particularly for my toddler at nursery, and because I actually quite like working Fridays that tend to be a bit calmer and more chilled, or maybe a Friday off as it seems to be the obvious day to take, my company might prefer it and also it might be nice to have a long weekend to switch off more etc). Would anyone have any advice or thoughts or experience of what might be best to go for? Thanks

How easy would it be to stop something you're doing on a Tuesday and pick it up again on a Thursday?

I would always have Mondays off if you're in a business that closes on bank holidays. You would get the same number of holidays (minimum 4/5th of 28 days) but you'll have more leeway on when to take them, eg you won't have to use anything for all the bank hols that fall on a Monday.

There was a thread here the other day about a colleague saying the people with older kids should give up their Monday leave for them and the people talking about Wednesdays off really made me think- it does split up the week for all of you, let’s you get things done that built up on Monday and Tuesday instead of everything being the weekend

100% Mondays for flexibility as posted upthread.

I used to have Wednesdays off, loved it! Regarding Fridays off, a colleague in my team recently did this and it was hard. For us, Friday is the day to catch up with things, plan the following week and actually get some headspace. She lost all that and it really showed.

I had Wednesdays off when I went back part time after DC2 and it was great. I still got the post weekend chat on Mondays and pre weekend chilledness / drinks on a Friday but a mid week mini break for me and dc2 (and dc1 in school holidays) too.
I've never worked in a job with super urgent stuff that can't wait from Tuesday to Thursday although did sometimes quickly check my emails on Wednesday just in case.
A colleague who had Mondays off complained that she always missed the team meeting and felt left out.

I have Thursdays off. I know a lot of people will think that’s a bit rubbish, but actually it really works for me! You only work 3 days before a day off. Fridays for me are a good mood office day, everything is pretty happy on a Friday. I still only have 2 days off with the kids (I used to have 3 off and had Mondays off and it was a lot soemtimes!), and if you book a Friday off you get a 4 day weekend. Also I tend to do all my work in those 3 days then don’t have too much on a Friday to worry about.

Sorry I mean 2 days off as in the weekend days.

Another vote for Mondays off.

Apart from not having to use leave up to cover BHs, it is so nice to go to bed on Sundays without that 'urgh, it's Monday tomorrow' feeling. I know that with small children you don't get to lie in, but I love having a lie in on Mondays thinking of all the poor souls having to go to work.

Any manager worth their salt will arrange team meeting so that everyone can join in.

Fridays would be my view, thought it would depend on your role. I have Fridays off, which is great as I don't miss any of the big meetings. If I need an extra day in nursery, I can ask nursery for an ad hoc day as they are less busy. They would laugh me out of the building if I tried to do this tues-thurs.there are more classes on a Friday.

Also means that I can pick the older one up from school and have after school play dates which is handy.

Monday if you can take a Tuesday on bank holiday weeks

I've done all sorts over the years. Monday off is good for the bank holidays but you miss all the post-weekend catch-up and feel behind everyone else when you come in on Tuesdays. A day off the middle of the week is even worse because you have two mornings of playing catch-up. Friday is easily my favourite, the only drawback is missing out on a slightly quieter day at work and the bank holiday thing but those are relatively trivial.

without kids, weds was a brilliant day to take off. Loved only ever having to work two days in a row.

with kids, you have to know your HR policy regarding bank holidays etc. also remember school inset days are always Mondays or Fridays. So you need to consider that too

I used to have Wednesdays and I found it was less disruptive. I liked working Friday’s and found it made Monday’s easier as you were on top of your work. A lot of people WFH or take Friday’s as leave so often they were my most productive day.

I used to have Wednesday off for toddler group and I loved knowing I only worked 2 days in a row. People who had Mondays off always scored with the BHs though...

Another vote for Wednesday, it was my day off in a job I hated, I'd only ever have to one more day before getting to escape. Was the only thing that kept me going. Lots of people had Friday off, but Friday was the best day, all the nice people were in.

I love having Fridays off. It means I can fully focus on work Monday to Thursday and then completely forget about it for three days. No big meetings ever happen on a Friday so I never feel like I'm missing anything important. I think I'd feel like more of a part timer having a Monday or Wednesday off.

just to change it up. I’d say Thursday.
3 days to get work done and Friday is Friday.