Which three days to work? Post Reply

[ningaloo]

I wonder if any of have any advice on which three days are best to return to work. I am returning to work after my second child and dropping to three days from four. I think I would like to do consecutive days and had just assumed they would be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but my husband thinks maybe Tues, Weds and Thurs would be better. Do any of you do this and have any advice? Is it easier/harder to arrange a nanny on certain days? I would get the bank holidays off so a few two day weeks if Mon-Weds but are there any other factors to consider - better days to be in the office for example?

Thanks so much.

[kirstys75]

I currently work three days a week - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (originally due to nursery only having these days available - but I found that it actually worked for me).

I have worked these days between my first and second children and again on returning to work after the second. The benefit of doing these days is that you feel like you have greater coverage of the week (I can pick up anything from Wednesday when I am in on Thursday), and that way I don't feel like I have to catch up two days on Mondays. There is also the perception that you are in the office more. Also, Friday is usually a quiet day in the office so I find it better to be in the office on busier days. It is also nice to have a day off mid week sometimes (although it can feel like the week is a bit stop start at times).

The people I know who work consecutive days tend to work Tues, Wed and Thurs - again because they feel like they have covered more of the week.

Depending on your employer you may also get any bank holidays in lieu - so if you don't work on the actual bank holiday, you can generally use the bank holiday on a day that you do work.

Hope that helps a bit.

[MMmmm]

I chose Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. My reasoning was that most bank holidays fall on Mondays which would mean that as holidays would be pro rated I would end up with less flexibility on the days of annual leave I could take. Ie if you work Mondays and a bank holiday falls you have to take it as a day off, if however you have Mondays off you get given a percentage of this time given back as holiday to take at your discretion. This was important to me as I wanted to have the ability to take a similar amount of holiday as my husband.

I also find that Tuesday through Thursday are the busiest in the office when most meetings are held so I don't seem to miss as much.

Best of luck with your decision, I don't think there is a best way of doing it, one make whatever scenario work.

[alapala]

I have tried almost every combination over the last 7 years. The best so far has been tues, Weds, fridays. The week doesn't get too far at work without you being there. You get to regroup after 2 days and then there is only Friday left!

[momormum]

Hi, I agree with Kirsty75 and have a similar arrangement. My best advice would be to choose your off days to coincide with days that other mum friends have off, or when activities happen that you like to attend with your children. I chose Monday, Tuesday and Thursday originally to split the week up, but it has worked out really well because loads of friends are also around on Wednesday and I was able to continue with certain playgroups. I hope this helps.

[mumoftwo]

Is it easier/harder to arrange a nanny on certain days?

On that particular point, one thing to bear in mind is that there are an awful lot of part-time working mums who have Fridays off, so whilst momormum is right that you should think about coinciding days off with friends (and Friday might therefore be a good day to be off), you'll also find that there are more nannies out there who currently have Friday open, so you might find one more easily if you have Friday as one of your working days...

[simplyme]

To find a nanny easier it would be best if the days were consecutive as it makes it easier for them to find another part time job to go along with it. Though if you don't mind which days you do maybe find a nanny and go with the days your preferred nanny wants(that's only if you don't mind) most nannies I know prefer to have Fridays off if they are going part time, so mon-weds or tues-thurs would be better

[Clare Lupton]

Have you ever thought of having your own business? Then you can choose the hours you work - I can show you a business that has the backing if a FRSE 250 company. If you'd like to know more I can explain, email me on Clare.lupton@gmail.com. It genuinely is your business, so you are free to do as much or as little as you like, obviously the more you do, the more you earn. Clare.

[HikingGirl]

Hi,
Al tips above are great, and are ones that I considered when working part-time.

Depending on your work and how important it is to you, I would recommend putting the focus on what works for your employer and (internal) clients. After all, you want to be able to show you are still contributing meaningfully, and you don't want colleagues to give you less work because you are 'never there'.

I did 4 days, being home on Wednesdays (and still available for urgent messages). It worked for me, as that way anything urgent could be done before the weekend. It also helped in making me feel more part of the team, and keep a 'work' mindset. That last one was important to me, as somehow when you have been a few days away work just doesn't seem so important anymore, and the quality I would deliver would have suffered.

So it depends on the type of work you do, and what it requires, and what your colleagues can more easily cover for you.

I don't think it makes a huge difference for the baby, babies need a loving, responsible person in their lives they can bond with and that helps them feel safe and secure. Consistency is important, but as you will be there nights, mornings and evenings, and you are thinking about a regular nanny that should be fine.

After the recession has started I have the impresion nannies seem to be a lot easier to come by, but perhaps I (and the people I know) have just been lucky. I do know nurseries are struggling to fill their places rather than having waiting lists.

Also check out some more considerations on my website Mum & Career http://www.mumandcareer.co.uk/category/ ... g-it-work/

All the best, Inge

[coolclapham]

I also thought I'd like to do three consecutive days when I went back, but ended up doing Mon, Weds, Thurs due to nursery availability and it worked really well. As others have said, you cover more of the working week that way, with only one day's emails to catch up on instead of two. And having a midweek day off in between working days feels like a real treat. I also agree that you might want to consider when your mum friends are around and whether you can continue with any baby classes etc. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[coolclapham]

I also thought I'd like to do three consecutive days when I went back, but ended up doing Mon, Weds, Thurs due to nursery availability and it worked really well. As others have said, you cover more of the working week that way, with only one day's emails to catch up on instead of two. And having a midweek day off in between working days feels like a real treat. I also agree that you might want to consider when your mum friends are around and whether you can continue with any baby classes etc. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[juliantenniscoach]

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Leaves you two long weekends.