If you work part-time, how flexible are you with your employers and which days do you work?

[Anonymous]

My manager has just agreed to allow me to go part time - 3 days a week. I am, of course, thrilled as I have been wanting this for years but was reluctant to ask because most people get turned down in my department. Anyway, in negotiating my part time schedule, I agreed to work full time during our busiest periods which work out to be about 2.5-3 months a year and I am okay with that. What I am more conflicted about is how flexible I should be about attending meetings/dealing with emergencies on my days off. I do see it as a quid pro quo situation and since we are initially doing it on a trial basis to see if it works well, reviewing every 6 months, I have to balance showing a willingness to be flexible with my need to actually have those two days off to the extent possible. I don't want to work full time for a part time salary though I will check emails every day and respond to urgent ones.

I am a program manager so I know I will have to jump in during emergencies that arise in my programs but I just wanted to hear from other senior staff on part time schedules and how you strike an effective balance. I really want to make this work indefinitely (my manager know this is my aim) so any advice will be appreciated.

Also, which 3 days are best to work? I wanted to work Mon-Wed but I have been advised, by a friend in HR with the Federal Govt, that Tues-Thurs is best for visibilty purposes. Her reasoning is that many people are on a compressed work schedule and take Mondays or Fridays off and people are less likely to notice and more readily accept that I may not be at work on a Monday or Friday (I am not with the Feds but our organization also allows compressed schedules).

Decisions decisions!

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

I work Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday so I get a break in the middle. It's great for work/life balance. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Only problem with not working Mondays is you are cheating yourself out of holidays

[Anonymous]

I think Monday tues and thurs would be good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Monday tues and thurs would be good

That would be my preference, though I can see the argument for Tue-Thu.

I'm fairly flexible, because I don't want it taken away from me because I wasn't!

[Anonymous]

Assuming you have kids, what are your childcare plans? I find it difficult to be all that flexible to work on my days off because, well, I have two small children to take care of. I have a couple people I can call for extra childcare help when I need it, but by no means is it guaranteed I can actually get one of them.

[Anonymous]

I work for myself, and find myself to be an ideal employee in regards to flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming you have kids, what are your childcare plans? I find it difficult to be all that flexible to work on my days off because, well, I have two small children to take care of. I have a couple people I can call for extra childcare help when I need it, but by no means is it guaranteed I can actually get one of them.

Thanks for all the responses.

Yes I do have 3 children (4,4, 13) but we will be keeping our nanny on full time so child care is not an issue if there is a work emergency. I really do want to spend more time with my kids though - doing the drop offs and pickups and spending time with them after school.

After these responses I am now leaning towards Mon, Tues and Thurs.

Please keep the responses coming. This is very helpful and giving me lots to think about.

[Anonymous]

When I worked PT, I liked M, T, and Th because too much piled up if I was out of the office on consecutive days. It ultimately did not work for me because I didn't have childcare on my days off, which limited my flexibility. I also never felt I was doing a good job at either work or home, but having full time childcare may help you with that.

[Anonymous]

I work Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays, because Thursday is my weekly deadline. I have a long weekend, but then can jump on things on Monday. Lots of folks aren't in the office Fridays, I find.

[Anonymous]

I work part time but I work 25 hours a week spread over 5 days. My boss is very flexible. When it is busy, I will stay later or work from home. Other days, I roll in around lunch after volunteering at my kid's preschool and then leave after working for about 2 hours so I can take my kids on a play date.

I often work more than 25 hours if you count answering emails when I'm at home. Sometimes I feel like I work full time but get paid for part time. At the same time, I love the flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only problem with not working Mondays is you are cheating yourself out of holidays

Not in my case. I don't get those days off paid but instead have to make up those hours sans child care somehow.