Is reducing from five days to four worth it?

[tralalalalalalalaala]

I currently work full time and have done for the past 12 years, with 2 children ages 7 and 4. My 4 year old is due to start school next year. I’ve been toying with the idea of reducing my hours and working 4 days instead of 5. I already compress my hours taking shorter lunch breaks to be able to be around for after school as we have limited wrap around childcare.

for anyone who’s been in a similar position to me and done it, is it worth going down to 4 days? Motivators are spending a little more time with my 4 year old before he starts school but also I find the housework on top of full time work as well as homework, keeping on top of school uniforms and cooking is a lot and I think I’d appreciate a day to catch up so it’s not all spent in evenings and weekends.

I have recently taken on a cleaner - she comes every other week and generally feel better about things but it doesn’t feel like enough.

obviously I worry about the future and drop in pension contributions but I have quite a large pension already due to generous employer contributions so I think I’m well placed to do this but I am wondering how much value I might get from a single day off & would be great to hear from others working a 4 day week.

I work four days of hours over five days - so finish at 3 or 4 depending on the day. Works for me as main motivation is to be around after school the kids. Workwise I do sometimes go over my 31 hours but nowhere close to working full time.

@tralalalalalalalaala have you read the working policy? At our company, if part time workers work over their contracted hours they can claim payment for the additional hours (capped to FT equivalent) which is great.

Hope what you intend to do works out for you OP.

I went down from 5 to 4 days a few years ago, though in the later stages of my career.

It was worth it for me but all my work has to be done in my workplace. I do longer days on the four I work but having a day off in the week has been brilliant. It means I have an appointments day for anything that needs doing plus a day to catch up with he house or shopping. It was especially useful when the children were small but still handy now as I can drop my daughter at college on that day.

From what you’ve said about your role there would be a significant risk no-one is covering the 4 hrs work you are dropping. Except you…….but unpaid for it!
It’s a very real risk and many people who drop just a few hrs find they have exactly the same work load as they did full time, but for part time pay