Difficult Decision

Pepperoni

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bloolagoon

I've done both full time because I had to and part time once I could afford to. Part time for me if it's at all possible I moved to 2.5 days a week and I felt so rich in every way, I was less stressed, more relaxed and batch cooked to save money. I feel for those whom like myself didn't have the option of part time as life really is better if you can reduce your hours.

In fact (shhh) mine are in school and I'm still part time

Kynthia

I'm going through a similar decision at the moment as I'm due to return to work in February.


If I reduce to three days then it's a bigger impact on my career, if the request is even accepted which I'm not sure it would. I've worked very hard and studied for additional professional qualifications to get where I am now and I don't want to lose that. However I also don't want to be incredibly stressed, exhausted, have little work/life balance, hardly see my child and miss out on things she's doing. Plus I'm the bigger earner so the impact on our income will be felt if I worked less.


I'm considering asking for a four day week as I think that will be accepted, won't impact my role and career too much, and won't affect our income as much. Plus I can see how things go and then change after our second baby, and I'll be able to have a more comfortable maternity leave with that baby due to earning more beforehand.


A few of my friends have returned to work already. They were all dreading it, and some asked for reduced hours but only some got it. However after being back for a few weeks they've all found it wasn't as bad as they feared, they still enjoy work and adult time, and the babies are fine with their families and nurseries and are doing fun new things. So they recommend returning to the higher level of hours you are considering and then seeing how things go, as it's likely that you'll be fine and if not then it's easier to reduce than increase your hours.

Buzzybee90

Pepperoni wrote: »

3 Days - Pro's
More time with baby
Better home / work balance - be more care free?
Not as reliant on childcare

3 Day's - Con's
Could end up doing 5 days work in 3 days
Could be contacted on days off - defeating point of having them off
Hard to ask for pay rises in future
Could impact career? Could be less valuable to company?
Would have to scale lifestyle to fit new salary

4 Days - Pro's
Still got a day off with baby
Would be earning similar money to what I was before
Could still put everything into my career and build on it
Still get a good amount in job benefits - pension etc
Could always ask to change again next year if not working out
Could save for next baby and taking a year off with them and older child

4 days - con's
Long days! Tiring!
Less time with baby
More stress ?

Thought this might help me digest my thoughts!

I'd say the working hours if you squeezed it into 4 days would be quite manageable, and not too far from the normal - it's less than 8-6 and that's with an hours lunch.

GwylimT

If you have the higher wage can your partner not reduce their hours/leave their job?

Pepperoni

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Pepperoni

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Pepperoni

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Newly_retired

My daughter reduced her hours to one long day and three short days, to be home in time to meet the children out of school.
Whilst it worked overall in terms of career, childcare, income etc, she was always stressed about getting finished in time to leave early, and pestered on her day off with emails, texts etc from clients or the office.

She has now decided to give up the day job. She has a small income from another hobby which she is developing as a job, but principally, she wants to be free from the stress of the job, the juggling, and to enjoy the children, have more time to spend with them. Money, as long as you have enough to live on, is not the most important thing in life. Good health and good relationships count for a lot more in the long term.
Do you need the lifestyle you had pre-children? Their needs will be different. Yes, they will cost more, but your needs as a family will change over time.
I suggest you need to think about the future rather than the immediate impact of any change in your hours and income.
Only you, and your partner can decide what is best for the family.

jackieblack

Newly_retired wrote: »

Money, as long as you have enough to live on, is not the most important thing in life. Good health and good relationships count for a lot more in the long term..

Oh, so true................