Anyone heard of anyone cutting down to 3 days a week?

[mattandbenny]

Pretty sure i know the answer but thought i’d ask. Currently a P/T of 7 years on 30 hours a week (been offered F/T before but turned it down).

In an ideal world i cut down to 3 days a week full time hours on them 3 days (so approx 22 hour weeks). I’m assuming i would get laughed out the managers office if i suggested this, as everyones hours seem to be set a rigid 24, 30 or f/t. Anyone know of anyone on different hours and if it’s possible?

[daveb.64]

Four in our office on job share, 3 days a week, 19.5 hours per week

[heraldmoth]

I’ve seen a 3 day contact before just be wary of them trying to change your contact terms and conditions legacy payments etc, although I think because you’re staying in role only the hours and not the contract change.

[SMS1969]

Someone at ours moved down from 4 to 3 a few months ago, has been struggling with aches and pains though, so management agreed the change.

[ArthurPewty]

Got guys in our DO doing 3 days a week 8hrs a day = 24hrs a week. Some doing Mon-Weds, some Thurs-Sat, some rolling between the 2 every fortnight

[BenacreNick]

3 day weeks are sometimes job-shares, MTW and TFS.

However you would need a compliant job-share partner.

[Clappedoutpostie]

Got guys in our DO doing 3 days a week 8hrs a day = 24hrs a week. Some doing Mon-Weds, some Thurs-Sat, some rolling between the 2 every fortnight

Same in our office, definitely the right way to go I think if u can get one.

[theotherone]

Yes.Just before I left I dropped to a job share 3 days a week 24 hour contract. If you got a boss who's willing it can be sorted in a matter of weeks.
I did Thur-Fri-Sat didn't bother me. It made the job bearable for 6 months doing it but even then I couldn't hack it anymore.
If you can I would deffo go for it.

[Kenfandango]

We have a staff member who, due to an unfortunate family situation, has been allowed to drop to 3 days a week doing 10 hour days so they are still on 30 hours. They come in and work as normal, then do a few hours LATs in the afternoon

[barcajr]

Someone went from five days to four days, it's a duty covering 1 in 4 duties, which means she has Tuesday and Wednesday fixed days off, which suits her fine as she no worries about doing the school run on those days

[norris9]

This is something I'd like to do to....

Not sure it necessarily would require finding someone else to also drop to 3 days.... especially in a large office....

Surely there is always someone off sick in a large office or the office is understaffed as a whole that you could just be available 3 days a week and maybe those 3 days could be at random....

The problem with this is.... if a manager agreed to dropping you to 3 days - you will probably be moved around, working with different people, clearing 2 or 3 day's mail.

I'd happily be on a totally flexible arrangement with up to 3 days a week, so happy to do less, but come in as they need me.... which would likely be everyday, but of course I'd only be able to offer them max 3 days per week.


5 days of walking 10 miles is just too much every week.

[HTPostman]

We have plenty of 4 day weeks here (Weds/Thurs off). We also have 2 day weeks or should that be weekends, as it’s every Sat+Sun, I believe that is a 15 hour contract. A few people have suggested 3 day week/job shares but I don’t believe anything has come of it.

[Ashley’s]

Yes in our office we can move to a 3 day week on an 18-hour contract as long as you can get another person looking to do this with you.

[Wullie10]

It's possible but depends on your age and health. Many firms reduce hours as employees approach retirement age. But doing it too early could drastically reduce your final pension.

[postslippete]

This is something I'd like to do to....

Not sure it necessarily would require finding someone else to also drop to 3 days.... especially in a large office....

Surely there is always someone off sick in a large office or the office is understaffed as a whole that you could just be available 3 days a week and maybe those 3 days could be at random....

The problem with this is.... if a manager agreed to dropping you to 3 days - you will probably be moved around, working with different people, clearing 2 or 3 day's mail.

I'd happily be on a totally flexible arrangement with up to 3 days a week, so happy to do less, but come in as they need me.... which would likely be everyday, but of course I'd only be able to offer them max 3 days per week.


5 days of walking 10 miles is just too much every week.

I have heard in the past of full timers who were prepared to drop their hours to part-time of the company buying their hours up and offering them a substantial cash incentive in return for doing so because the business has always wanted a part-time workforce.

I don't understand why you would need to be moved around and work with different people for dropping your hours to part-time. You're doing them a favour not the other way round and if they are short-staffed, then that's their problem, not yours. Unfortunately, this business wants total flexibility and for you to come in and work your day off at short notice if someone rang in sick and I would be very wary of agreeing any new contract (which you would have to sign if you contractually reduce your hours) that states that overtime is contractual.