Dropping hours at work.

sulkisu

Emphino wrote: »

I do believe you've not read every thing i have posted. i have said i will work over time if and when it is available. if by being lazy you mean not wanting to come home feeling like !!!! every day hardly ever spending quality time with my kids. Barely having a relationship with my OH Always tired among other countless things.

Oh and another pro. Working to live not living to work.

If I wanted to be lazy I'd just quit my job full stop and go on the dole. and not spent the last 5 years of my life working a job that make me miserable.

Lastly i've only ever spent less than 1 year on dole. and that was between jobs twice.

If you are prepared to do overtime whenever it's available, you would be better off just staying with the hours that you have - at least they are guaranteed. As for the reasons why you want to reduce your hours, you don't need to spell them out - many of us on here are in exactly the same boat and feel the same way.
The problem with planning your life around the benefit system, is that you will be at the mercy of any cuts or changes, as so many others have before you. A quick search of posts on this forum will show you that. Hopefully tax credits (especially for those who choose to work less) and child related benefits will be looked at next.

Podge52

If you can manage on eighteen hours op go for it. Ignore all the haters you are doing nothing they wouldn't do themselves.

Sky_

Have you checked what the situation will be when Universal Credit arrives in your area?


As I understand it, you'll be expected to work at least 30 hours at minimum wage, or you'll have to attend the jobcentre as well as working. I think top up benefits are also reduced if you work too few hours.


It may not affect you, but is worth checking before you end up in a worse situation than you are in now. UC is slowly being rolled out across the whole country.

Sugarcandy

Podge52 wrote: »

If you can manage on eighteen hours op go for it. Ignore all the haters you are doing nothing they wouldn't do themselves.

Absolute rubbish. I can only speak for myself, but I certainly wouldn't do it. Benefits are not supposed to be a lifestyle choice, they are there to help people in genuine need, not just for an easy life. As i said if he can manage on 18 hours a week without benefits I have no problem with that.

sulkisu

Podge52 wrote: »

Ignore all the haters you are doing nothing they wouldn't do themselves.

Clearly not, otherwise we would all be doing it, wouldn't we?

McKneff

If you feel knackered coming home from work on the small amount of hours you do then


You need exercised to up your stamina.


You need to see a doctor, there is definitely something wrong with you.

haras_nosirrah

30 hours is part time. If you work nights can't you see the kids when you get up in the afternoon?

say you work midnight to 6am for example then go home, go to bed until 2pm and spend the afternoon with your wife and children before going back to work - you would probably see more of your kids than most working parents do as you will see them when they are awake rather than arriving home at bedtime and going to work when they get up in the morning

I am a classed as part time at work on 33 hours. husband works full time and we have a 2 year old. We make it work as we have a mortgage and bills to pay

stevemLS

Podge52 wrote: »

If you can manage on eighteen hours op go for it. Ignore all the haters you are doing nothing they wouldn't do themselves.

But he can't manage, that is the whole point.

2gorgeousgirls

I work 30 hours per week and am officially classed as part time (quite rightly).

I have 2 children and I have loads of time to spend with them working so few hours.

I don`t think you will find many people sympathetic to your plan to cut hours because you work too many hours (in your opinion).

It seems there are more and more threads by people who want everyone else to work to pay taxes to support their families while they have an easy life.

And before anyone comments on my only working 30 hours, my husband works full time and we receive no tax credits. I could give up work and get credits but we believe it is our responsibility to support our family and show our girls a good example. That is something that seems to be lacking in many families.

Tax credits were meant to be an extra bit of help to those were doing their best to look after their families not to be a.chance for people to take the easy way out and let the govt support them.

FBaby

OP, have you considered why it is that you can't cope with working 18 hours when there are so many single people working more hours (many full-time) and looking after 2 children or more?

Being tired, exhausted, stressed is normal. Most parents go through it with very young children. The way to cope with it is not to reduce your working hours when you are working few already but adjust your lifestyle, ie. make sure you go to bed early enough to get enough sleep, make sure you eat healthily, no drinking etc...

The reality is that unless you have a health issue, you and your partner being exhausted is not due to you working 18 hours. Reducing your hours to have more energy wouldn't put you to the level of the 'norm', far from it, so you need to question why you think you are hard done by compared to the average family with young children.