hmm. I think I would do the shorter hours. I have been considering this as well. What time would you get home with the 6 hr day vs the 8 hr day?
If with 6 hrs you would get home by 3:30 or 4- vs 5:30 or 6-- I would pick the shorter hours and work every day. I would like to be home by 3:30/ 4pm b/c it makes daycare pickup and making dinner so much less stressful. Days I do daycare pickup at 5:30 I feel like I am just running so hard, racing into daycare, grabbing the kids, running home, trying to get dinner on the table as fast as possible so we can get to bed, etc. Days I pickup at 3:30--- I'm able to chat with them as I get them, they love being the first ones picked up, I see their friends, I see their projects--- we can stop at a playground, i have time to make dinner without just going with 'what is the absolute fastest.'

Friday off for sure. You can do so much with a 3-day weekend.

Shorter hours every day (but my kids are in activities most evenings so I couldn't work longer hours than I do now).

I work four days (32 hours) and I really like it. I have a toddler and a baby. Its nice to have that day each week for drs appts, etc. Then again, my commute is 45-50 minutes so going in for shorter days seems like a waste to me. If my commute was only 20 minutes, that option may be more appealing. In terms of my co-workers scheduling around me, it does make it easier for them to avoid the one day that I am off vs. having to worry about scheduling around my reduced hours every day. I am also lucky that they are flexible as to which day I take off each week, whether it be for personal reasons or having to switch around because of work reasons. I have a scheduled day off but at least once a month, I have to change it around.

I've been wondering this myself. M-F seems to be more practical for school age kids..but a four day work week with a long weekend every week sounds soooo good...

Off Mondays and home Fridays is intriguing! I'd have to think about if I'd miss too much on Mondays...since most everyone is home Fridays, that tends to be a catch-up day.

Thanks all. I have a 1 year old and a 20 minute commute. Definitely have concern about "shorter" days not truly being shorter.

PP here. Alternatively if you have a really great boss/working group you can be off on Mondays and still work from home on Fridays and only have to go in 3 times a week. I would only propose this if you're know to have a killer work ethic and good work/trust relationship with your boss.

I'd definitely prefer to have every Friday off. It's so nice to have a day that you know that you can schedule Dr appointments. Plus, when there's a Monday holiday, it's a 4 day weekend.

Since you already work from home Fridays then just do the 4 days and make it clear you are not working on Fridays at all. If you weren't already working from home I would do shorter days as I think it's harder for coworkers who expect you to be in the office every day. I would definitely NOT do a half day as it seems to be harder to be productive and/or perceived as such.

Only do shorter days if you can be absolutely rigid about when you leave. otherwise you will never end up at a truly shorter schedule but your paycheck will be shorter.

How old are your kids?

If they're in school, I like the M-F option. If younger, and you can spend a full quality day with them, then the 4 day option. Also depends on your commute.

I'd like to go down to a 30-some hour week.

Which schedule would you prefer:
- Shorter hours every day (M-F 6-hour days) - 30 hr week total
- Fridays off (M-Th 8-hour days) - 32 hr week total
- Friday afternoons off (M-Th 8 hour days; F 3-hour day) - 35 hr week total

Or another variation I'm not considering?? Money is a concern so I'm looking to maximize hours but still get myself a bit of extra family time. I currently work at home on Fridays, as does most of my office.