WWYD re: working hours

Slobina · June 2011

Many of you probably saw my post a few weeks (or months?) ago about how to get more time with LO when you're working. I think I mentioned that DH was not open to me cutting back on my hours. We were also looking for a house in a more expensive neighborhood than we live in now, so that was a lot of his reasoning. Since then, we have decided that there's no rush to move, since Ruby isn't going to school for a quite a while. Given that, he's now open to me cutting back to 30 hours a week. Oh happy day.

So now I'm at the point where I can talk to my boss about 30 hours a week. Other people do it here, so I know our company and my boss are open to it. But I'm not sure how I want to do it.

[Poll]

Slobina · June 2011

So just to answer my own question, I had been thinking of 5 days a week, 6 hours each day. I thought I could pick Ruby up for daycare early, make dinner, etc. Have some regular time each day, and also have a regular time each day when I can do things (doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, etc.). But then DH brought up the idea of other options.

AustinBride06 · June 2011

I answered 4 days a week, but thinking about it, I typically work 10-hour days minimum anyway so maybe I'd just do 3 10-hour days and get two full extra days with my LO.

L L CG · June 2011

3 10-hour days. Knock em out. Have 4 day weekends with DD. Perfecto!

I do 4 10's right now and I love it.

Temp13436125005166 · June 2011

I worked 30hr weeks for 3 years it was great! (I only went back to FT because DH got laid off :-( otherwise I would have stayed 30hrs for a couple more years)

I did ~4 days. That's the standard at my company for people who work 30hrs. At first I wanted to do 3, 10hr days but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to miss the evening routine and with DH's prev job I had to be there in the mornings so I couldn't get in really early. However I have a very flexible manager / group / company so I usually worked 9hr days Tues - Thurs and left early on Friday (and Monday was my day off). For me it worked best to work my days all in a row so work was fresh on my mind and then to have a long weekend so I could just focus on family then.

Good luck talking with your manager, I was really nervous about it but it ended up being really easy. I know for me personally I was able to actually enjoy work again because I felt I had better balance. Also I feel a lot of pride and loyalty to my company for being so supportive of my schedule and allowing me the flexibility to work a 30hr week.

AustinAggie01 · June 2011

It's hard to notice the extra time if you're still working 5 days a week. IMO, having a full-day (or two) makes a huge difference.

Duckie07 · June 2011

When I worked 30 hours/week, I did 4 days at 7.5 hours and had every Friday off. The 4 day schedule allowed me to still get home at a decent hour, with time to spend with DD in the mornings and evenings, and have a three day weekend. Also, my work wanted me in the office for at least 4 days, so I was really limited by that as well. I'm not sure that I could do three 10 hour days. I guess it depends on how long your commute is, etc. With my commute, I would've had to leave before DD got up and would have been getting home just as she was going to bed. I don't think I'd be willing to miss three days a week with her. But, if the 3-day work week interests you, maybe your bosses would be willing to give you a trial run with this schedule.

2H2L · June 2011

L L CG:
3 10-hour days. Knock em out. Have 4 day weekends with DD. Perfecto!
I do 4 10's right now and I love it.

Ditto

A&R2006 · June 2011

AustinAggie01:
It's hard to notice the extra time if you're still working 5 days a week. IMO, having a full-day (or two) makes a huge difference.

Ditto this. Just not having to get out the door early and commute to work one day meant quite a bit of extra time for us. I voted for the 4 day option. For me, being able to get the kids home a little early and have more time in the evenings with them made a world of difference in my stress level. Our evening routine just goes so much more smoothly when we have extra time and aren't rushed.

michelleaxo · June 2011

I voted for the 3 day option but would also like the 4 day option. Having to be at work 5 days a week would not feel like much of a PT schedule to me, even if my days are shorter.

Slobina · June 2011

Thanks y'all. The 4-day option is now sounding like the better one to me. I can still get home earlier, since it is only 7.5 hours and not 8, have time with her, make dinner, etc. Then have an extra day with her on Fridays and do errands and playdates.

el_twirpo · June 2011

i think it depends on the nature of the work. we have a lot of time sensitive projects (ie. last minute), and it was really difficult to coordinate with people working 3 days a week. i voted 4 days because 7.5 hours is pretty close to a full work day and would make it easier to coordinate on projects while still getting a full extra "weekend" day.

labbielover07 · June 2011

I would work the 3 longer days and have 4 days off to spend time with LO and do all of your appointments, errands, cleaning, etc. Working 7.5 hours a day is just like working 8 hours a day to me. That half hour really isn't going to seem like much. I'd rather knock the long days out... if you where going to work 8 hours a day, what is another 2 hours since you are already there? Pick what works best for you... it is nice that you have the flexibility to pick working hours!

L L CG · June 2011

MrsRosie:
I voted for working 4 days. Too many days in a row away from daycare can be tough on some kids.

Very good point. I change my answer. Do the 4 days.

s-a-r-a-h · June 2011

Slobina:
So just to answer my own question, I had been thinking of 5 days a week, 6 hours each day. I thought I could pick Ruby up for daycare early, make dinner, etc. Have some regular time each day, and also have a regular time each day when I can do things (doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, etc.). But then DH brought up the idea of other options.

This was my thinking as well. I feel like if you went with the three-day option, you'd be playing catch up some days. I also think this schedule would allow for more consistency with your DD.

kirknsarah · June 2011

I voted for the four day option as well. Could you also take a shorter lunch a couple days a week and leave even earlier?

molliedb · June 2011

i voted 4 7.5 hour days BUT my concern would be that you might end up staying a little later most days and end up working a full day anyway. if that happens at all with your job, i'd go with 3 tens.

Mrs.Talala · June 2011

My dream schedule is to work 4 days and have fridays off. I think as long as you are good about leaving on time then I would do 4 days. I would think that working 7.5 hours a day would still give you a good amount of time in the evening. One day I'll get the nerve to ask my boss if we can make it work!

MrsAJL · June 2011

I think I'm the odd person out because I opted for the five 6-hour days. I don't what kind of field you're in, but if I wanted to cut down to 30 hours/week, I would probably do it best at shorter hours per day. Missing any days in the kind of work I was doing pretty much meant that I would still have to "work" on the days I was off. It was too hard for me to be absent from work. In fact, I would say that even during most of my vacations, I was available to some clients by phone/email (usually my international ones.)

That being said, if you did three 10-hour days, see if you can do you days consecutively instead of staggered (i.e. T/W/Th instead of M/W/F).

SaraLouiseBride08 · June 2011

I voted three 10 hour days ... but that's not what I do, unfortunately.

I asked for 3 10's but they said they wanted me there 5 days a week. So I work Mon-Fri, 6 hours a day.

This ONLY works because I'm working from home. If (when) I'm having to get dressed and drive to and from the office, it wouldn't be worth it for me ... I'm still not really getting to spend any more time with DD and getting paid less. So that sucks. I love workign from home and doing it, though.

If I had a choice, though, I'd still pick 3 10's because it's just not the same as having full days with DD.

I am still undecided about what I'm goign to do when they want me to come back to the office Crying

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