contemplating a modified work schedule - pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

I've been back to work for a month after three months of maternity leave, and while I really like my job and did find that I missed work/adult interaction while I was on leave, I'm feeling like I'm not doing a good job in any area of my life and need to make a schedule change, at least temporarily, to try and bring some sanity and balance back into my life. My bosses have mentioned being open to a flexible schedule, but it's taken me some time to figure out what I need/want and what might be practical. I've narrowed it down to two options, but I'm not sure which is the smarter option to ask for. While I need to make a change for my sanity, I also don't want to be fired or seen as expendable should another round of layoffs come our way.

Option one: reduce my schedule to four days a week

Pros: more time with the baby, more time at home to take care of errands like groceries and chores around the house, which would free up more family time in the evenings and on weekends

Cons: slightly less money, might be a less attractive option to supervisors

Option two: work from home one day a week

Pros: slightly more time with the baby, ability to take care of errands and chores in between projects, no loss in pay, might be a more attractive option to supervisors

Cons: doesn't give me quite as much extra time with the baby

Has anyone here made the switch to one of these schedules (or chosen another alternative)? I'd love to hear how it's worked for you and whether you'd make that same choice again.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the kind of work you do, and what child care you have set-up. I work in a field that involves a lot of client contact and meetings. I've done versions of both your options, and I've found that working at home never worked for me when my babies were home with the nanny. Now that my kids are school aged, I can work very productively from home as long as the kids are at school. Even when the nanny is with them, I can't do a conference call without worrying that a client will hear my kids screaming in the background. I vastly prefer the straightforward option of going to a part time schedule.

[Anonymous]

You aren't supposed to do child care when working from home. In fact, if you work for the Feds, you probably have to sign that you won't be doing that. I wouldn't call telecommuting time "time with the baby" - it just isn't.

[Anonymous]

I'd go with the 4 days/week schedule unless you need the money. I used to work 3 days/week and I loved the schedule. I did it for 3.5 years and I'd still be doing it if they hadn't mandated that I come back full time (I quit instead).

[Anonymous]

I worked 4 days from 7am-1pm and was expected to work from home the remainder of the day and then the fifth day as well. When my child was an infant it was a bit easier to handle b/c of naps and such but it did get harder as he got older and if I had a conference call at the same time as a melt-down I was in trouble. I will say that the schedule forced me to be extremely efficient when I was in the office and most days I could accomplish 90% of what I had to during that time and then at night after the baby was in bed I would finish the rest. If I were you I would start with option #2 and if you find its not working then move to option #1.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the feedback. If I work from home, my baby would be in daycare - my office has the same rule about needing to have childcare while working from home. Since I wouldn't need to commute home, I'd get to see her for about an extra hour in the afternoons - that's where the slightly more time with her would come in on that option.

[Anonymous]

I think part-time is a way better option if you can swing. You end up doing almost the same amount of work as full-time so your bosses still respect you.

[Anonymous]

I'm on a 4 day a week schedule and I absolutely love it!!!!

Yes, the 20% pay reduction was a hit especially coupled with daycare fees at the same time, but luckily I got a really nice raise a few months after I was back and that helped close the gap.

I am definitely doing as much work, but I find I am more productive. I still take hour lunches on most of my 4 days in the office. I do check blackberry and sometimes log on after my toddler goes to bed, but not often, and I usually don't HAVE to, again, it's because I chose to take lunch that day or something usually. I also check in on my day off but have never had to do more than a quick conference call from home or answer a quick e-mail.

Psychologically, having that extra day with her really helps me get through the week - I think more than having extra time with her over the week days would.

But, I do have many co-worker moms who do the work from home thing and love it - for them they did not want a salary reduction and have long commutes. (My commute is fairly reasonable which is another reason I'd rather have the day off).

I don't know if you also have the option of leaving early each day which might be nice too. Though, ultimately, you do get more of a time bonus if you take the one day off, because you don't have to factor in commuting, getting your child ready for daycare, etc.

[Anonymous]

I also went to a 32 hours a week schedule, 4 days a week. Like PP, I love it and hope I can continue like this until DD goes to school.

I don't even miss the money from the paycut, and I got a raise that covered about half of the lost income.

My days off are Wednesdays. I spend the entire day with DD, playing, reading to her and cuddling. We go out in the afternoons to lunch and then somewhere she can walk around like the library or the mall. I don't run any errands nor clean the house. I take a two hour nap with her. I watch to see what new things she's learned. It's our day together and it recharges me like nothing can.

At work, I'm doing the work of 5 days into four. On my days off, I always check e-mail a couple of times a day, and my boss has my cell phone if she needs to reach me, which she has rarely used. I have switched days off occasionally to meet deadlines, and for personal reasons also. My boss is satisfied with the way things are.

If you can swing it, I highly recommend a 4 day schedule. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I work a 30 hr. work week and absolutely love it! I work 6 hours a day instead of 4 days a week, although I sometimes work from home on Fridays. I'm a much happier person. I have a job that requires certain skill sets that are difficult to find but I was still able to convince my boss to part-time.

[Anonymous]

OP again - thanks very much for all the feedback, it's really great to hear how different schedules are working for others. I think I'm leaning towards going to a four day week, at least temporarily - I raised both ideas with my supervisor earlier this morning, and she seemed receptive and is going to take it to our department head for a decision. Fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

I was going to say ask for both. A 4 day week, with one of those four days at home. That's what I do and it really works out nicely.

[Anonymous]

Which option is the norm for other moms in your office? And how have they done with the modified schedule. I like the 4 day a week schedule but it does require a 20% pay cut so you have to weigh that. At the same time, how long do you think you will work a modified schedule and how long do you think you will work at this same job? If you think you will be there for the next 5 years or so, then maybe telecommuting one day is better, so that as your little ones get older and change schools or get sick and you need to stay home with them, you would already be in a work at home situation that you can them tailor more to meet those needs. I think you need to figure out which is better in the short and long term in all aspects of your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which option is the norm for other moms in your office? And how have they done with the modified schedule. I like the 4 day a week schedule but it does require a 20% pay cut so you have to weigh that. At the same time, how long do you think you will work a modified schedule and how long do you think you will work at this same job? If you think you will be there for the next 5 years or so, then maybe telecommuting one day is better, so that as your little ones get older and change schools or get sick and you need to stay home with them, you would already be in a work at home situation that you can them tailor more to meet those needs. I think you need to figure out which is better in the short and long term in all aspects of your life.

OP here - that's been part of why I've been debating what I want/what to ask for - I'm the only mother to a young child in my office, everyone else has children high school age or older, so there's not really a model I can follow in the office. Our division is huge (approx. 200 people), and includes people who work a variety of different schedules, so there are people doing a little bit of every sort of schedule, but a lot of that is based on job type - what works for someone in a travel-intensive position might not be an option for someone in a desk job.

I've proposed the idea of changing my schedule on a temporary basis, at least to start - perhaps until the end of December, and then we can reevaluate. I think in the longer term, the telecommuting option makes the most sense, but right now more time with the baby is what I'm really craving. The 20 percent pay cut is a consideration, but I took a 20 percent pay jump when I started this job a little over a year ago, and that helps to offset things. Right now it's in the hands of my big boss - at this point, I'd be happy to try either option, but it's very interesting to hear what's working for other people.