Worked for me. I stepped off into a pt roll as a counsel and then partner in big law. I walked out every day at 3:30. I was staffed on more research and writing based tasks and less on deal work. That worked okay for my practice area (tax). I still periodically had to log in in evenings but not often. This allowed me to pick up ds every day from preschool around 4 without having to do aftercare. He had moderate special needs at that age, and could not handle the full day. The downside of this period was I probably got paid less that 70 percent of what I would have been making if I was full time (even though I was on the 70 percent billable hours schedule). I am exceptionally efficient with work so I never had any problems keeping work to my designated hours. I did this for around five years and then went back ft when another colleague left and an opening needed to be filled, and ds was in a better place in school and with his SNs. Because I hadn’t left the big law path, I slid right into being a well regarded attorney at our firm and industry and currently lead our practice group and make a lot of money. So yes it worked for me!

Anonymous wrote:Not for me. I ended up being paid for 20 hours but working closer to 35-40 hours per week. This was less than I would have otherwise, but very far from half time. It only works if you actually work half time.

Exactly my experience. Basically the message was 40 hours a week was part time. IT / Engineering Consultant

Yes, I was part time for 10 years while my 3 kids were young. Then I ramped back up to full-time.

I am so grateful that I was able to be part-time. It had downsides, but at least I did not feel guilty for being away from the kids so much.

I'm now 55 (with 3 kids in college), and working full-time as an in-house counsel at a corporation. I could ramp up my career at this point if I would like, but I'm happy with my salary and work-life balance.

In the future, my goal is to work until 65 and allow my 2 daughters to be SAH moms if they would like, and help them financially if they need it. (This is a variation on the grandparents providing childcare while the mom works. Instead, my goal is to be the grandparent who works, so that the moms can take care of the kids.)

I did for years, 32 hrs a week with Fridays off. That day gave me some additional time with the kids when they were little and then some breathing room and “me” time when they were older. I did some chores that day to free up our weekends, but would also do things like get my haircut, meet a friend for lunch and take a nap.

Yes it does. But you will still feel busy every day. Don't take on more volunteer commitments like room mom, etc., because you think you have more time. You really don't. You will have more time to take care of chores and go to appointments, though, which is nice.

I work 30 hours a week (like another PP quota based so work 30, paid 30) and it's great! I wouldn't be able to work at all if I had full time hours (my husbands job is inflexible, long hours) so I am grateful for the opportunity. We live on my husband's income and save mine.

Yes, I am in the office two days a week (6 hours those days) and work from home 5-10 hours a week outside of that. It’s sometimes a little bit more, but that is an average week. I am available those other days when home and try to respond to emails/messages within an hour or so depending on what I am doing. I kept our house cleaners every other week and my husband has some flexibility as well with hybrid work so I do not take on all household tasks. I definitely recommend it if you have an understanding boss and are efficient.

No. I was penalized for it at work and still felt like I wasn’t doing enough for my kids. It was better than full time just didn’t get rid of the stress.

I don’t have experience but have seriously considered going PT. The problem is, I would work while my kids are in school (preschool so only half day). I would be working from the minute after drop off right until pickup. I think it might create more stress because while I would relish more time with my children, a big part of my stress is lack of time to clean, shop, and cook. If I go part time there would be no money to pay for housekeeping help beyond the biweekly cleaning we use now.

I agree - friends who have done this have either failed miserably because they end up working more than half time or they succeed because they know how to hold a boundary and remind their boss they are part time and cannot take on more work.

I always felt like it would be the worst of both worlds - you still have to get up and go into the office, and then you still have to bear all the burden (possibly more than before) of home/childcare but with no outside help. And you still need childcare, plans for sick days, days off school, etc. If you could still have a cleaner, some babysitting, and a partner who doesn’t see you as his overtime maid and nanny, maybe it could work.

Not for me. I ended up being paid for 20 hours but working closer to 35-40 hours per week. This was less than I would have otherwise, but very far from half time. It only works if you actually work half time.

Absolutely yes. But it’s ACTUALLY part time-it’s quota based so I do half as much work as a full time person for half as much pay (and reduced benefits coverage.). Many other friends that tried to part time in less structured jobs took a pay cut but only ended up working slightly less. With three kids and without part time and telework I could not do this without a full time live in nanny. I have seen an au pair work for some families, it can be hot or miss. I feel the pain of leaving 50k on the table every year and I hope I made the right call for my kids. We bought on one income so house is not our worry but college funds are.

Yes. It's been the perfect work life balance. The only constraint is whether you can afford it. We make it work.

I have three kids and have always worked fulltime. I've made adjustments at various points in my career (stepping out of management roles, moving to positions less "in the hot seat", a little more telework, etc.) but now with all three kids in elementary school, I still feel like working 40+ hours is not ideal and I want to explore the option of working part time in the near future.

Setting aside the question of finding a position (which I know isn't easy) and whether it would work for us financially, I wanted to see if other moms who switched from full to part time work found that it was sufficiently helpful in bringing work-life balance. Or, did it actually create more stress (i.e. less time to get work done but expectations to do more with kids, too much of a financial hit, etc.)? And how many hours did you work per week, since part time can be many things?

Anyone care to share their experience?