work 4 days a week or shorter days?

linjmurx

I currently work 32 hours a week, Mon-Thursday. It's great to have the extra day to get things done or just spend more time with the kids. I'm debating asking if I can switch to spreading the 32 hours over a full work week, so I'll work something like 8:30-4 instead of the current 8-5. My reasoning is that although I like daycare for my two year old on a lot of levels.. I do feel that it's a long day for her. We'd have a bit more quality time throughout the week and her schedule wouldn't be as rigorous, so to speak. Same for her brother who is 6 months (in an ideal world I wouldn't want him to be in daycare at all yet).  The downside is that I might have pressure to stay later at work when things are busy. And no extra day off to get things done. My 2 year old goes to day care a good chunk of the day on Fridays so that I can spend time with the 6 month old or a get some stuff done. just wondering if anyone has any thoughts as to which one would be better.  

snicksnack

If it were me and I was going in five days a week the 20 percent pay cut from working 40 over five to 32 over five would not be worth it to me. You would basically be looking at a little over six hours a day

Jenny952

I'm currently 32 hours/week and I do 4 days.  6 hours vs 8 hours isn't enough for me to want to have to go to work every day, and even if I did only technically work a 6-hour day, it would be hard for me to cut my day short, so I would probably end up working longer hours.  I also am able to only pay for 4 days of daycare, where a 6-hour work day for me would still mean close to 7 hours for DD in daycare.  

I love having another day off during the week.  I feel so much more productive with 1 full day off.  As far as daycare goes, DD only goes 4 days/week and if I worked shorter days, she'd still have to go everyday.  

The question is really what you want to do with your extra time.  If you want some free time in the afternoons, then do 5 shorter days so you can get home and get dinner, do chores, etc.  If it's more important for you to have more quality time with your kids, then 4 days is the way to go. 

MammaBear81

I'd prefer the day off.  I worked 4 10 hour days before I had kids and it was great.  I could get so much done on the one day a week that I had off.  Recently I had a 4 1/2 day work week (because a 4 day work week is not feasible at my current job) and I loved that as well.  I finished my 1/2 day by 11:30 and still felt like I had most of my day to spend with the kids, get stuff done.

Veittobe

I just put in a request for something similar.  I currently work full time 40 hours/week.  I'm considering shortening 2 of my days so I leave at 3 rather than 5.  I will still remain full time.  

I definitely worry that I will be pressured to stay later on my "short" days.  But I figured this was a good first step prior to going part time 4 days/week.  

Go with your gut and do what you think will work best for your family.   

EastCoastBride

In talking about 32 hours, I'd definitely keep it at 4 days.  I WFH one day a week.  While I do have to actually do work, for the fact that I'm home and don't have to commute- I do get a little extra time in the day to get other things done.  And I will occasionally take a longer lunch to run errands.

THis is jsut a WFH day.  I would love, love, love to just have the entire day off to get stuff done.  I HATE having to rush around and squeeze in errands on my way home.  Just having a day to do it all would be heaven. 

Kissty

I currently work 4 10's.  I absolutely love it.  Going in an hour later (my option) would do nothing for me as LO is still asleep at that time.  Getting off an hour earlier wouldn't make much of a difference when I compare having a FULL day w/LO.  Sure I'd like to get home earlier, but I really enjoy having a full day just me and him.  I think it is good bonding.  Not to mention I don't have to commute on that day. Also I am able to schedule all of LO's appt. without having to take off.  4 days is my preference.  I think no matter how long LO is at day care that's a long day.  If getting home earlier (and losing a day) works better for your family then that is what you need to do.

ccam

If I had the choice, I would much rather have a full day off and continue working 4 days, especially since you said you might be pressured into working later if you left at 4.

MoreThanABride

I would rather have the day off

*sparky*

Since flexing your hours seems to be an option, is your DH available to help at all to allow your kids to be at DC fewer hours but you to maintain your 4 day/week schedule?  Before DH started traveling for work, I would go into work early so I could leave at 4.  DH handled getting DS up in the morning, getting him ready, etc. 

I would definitely prefer the 4 day/week schedule over 5, so if you can flex your time and keep 4 days/week that seems like the ideal situation to me.

jf198400

After my 2nd ML I went to PT 32hrs/week Mon-Thurs and I LOVED having that extra day off.  When I changed jobs I had to go back to FT.  I would do anything to have a 4day week again.  In my opinion, shorter days are not worth the paycut. I don't think I would get all that much more accomplished during the week with shorter days, whereas with a full day off I could do all my laundry, errands, appointments. I also don't worry too much about the kids having a long day at daycare. They love daycare and have so much fun with their friends. I'd rather them spend an extra hour there playing then at home watching me do chores.  On rare occasions when I get out of work early, I usually go home first and do some dishes or cleaning before I go pick them up.

KL777

I would go for the 4 day work week.

cltk12

I would do the 4 days for sure.  Working shorter days will work right away, but there will be some meeting you need to stay late for one week and that will turn into 2 weeks, etc.

azuremama

I do 32 hours and I have Wednesdays off.  I love it this way.  It's just nice to have one day where we don't have to get out of bed and do anything.  I don't have to commute, I don't have to get dressed for work or put on makeup.  Plus, we can hit museums or do fun stuff when it's more empty.  I don't know how your daycare is, but with ours, they go outside in the afternoon, so if I picked them up early, they'd be missing what is basically their favorite part of the day. 

Also, at some point you might be able to get a discount on daycare fees for being part-time.

When they're both in school, I'll move to shorter days so I can pick them up after school, but for now, I wouldn't trade.

Mrs_Lady

4 days!

linjmurx

thanks so much for all of the feedback. Your comments make me realize how lucky I am to work a shorter work week. And the fact that a couple of hours a day will get eaten away and won't seem like much time off.