[Closed] Anyone reduced there contracted working hours?

Can you flex your existing hours so you work ten days' worth in nine days? That way you keep the same income but get the day back that you're after

Your work should have a policy on flexible working, read it.

When I went from full time- half time, it was informal request, then if that is rejected a formal request can be put in. More likely to be accepted if you have a genuine reason (childcare, carer etc)

Thanks chaps.

Will dig out the flexible working policy - if I can track it down on our intranet...

Hadn't thought of doing 10 days work in 9 - I do more than that at the moment as I get into work early to avoid the commuter crush on the local trains.

Genuine reason as my wife is paraplegic and as she is getting older is needing a bit more help with things - especially with looking after our 2 kids as well.

I think you're on the right track with flexible working hours.

A 9-day fortnight, that's saying "every other Friday off" for example, or whatever day suits you.

starting 25 mins early and leaving 25 mins later every day or coming in an hour earlier or whatever might be easier to take than a 10% reduction in salary.

It's going to be more acceptable to your employer if you are happy to take a midweek day off. Naturally, most folk would ask for every other Friday and that causes issues once a few folk want the same flexibility.

I negotiated a 9 day fortnight. 36hrs / 44hrs but I found after a W hile I was running out of hours at lunch time on the Thursday of a short week or Friday of a long one, but buggering off in the middle of the day wasn’t really welcomed so I started doing a full day every Thursday and taking every Friday off! 40/40

I went to my company a few years ago and said I wanted to do a nine day fortnight, but with the same salary, holidays, terms and conditions etc. It was on the basis that if you don't ask you don't get. Amazingly they agreed. I did have to work a wee bit longer each day but you hardly notice it. I was flexible about what day I took off. Sometimes I moved it to suit me, other times I moved it to suit the project.

It was the best thing I ever did. I ended up with the equivalent of about 16 weeks off a year and no loss of money. Quality of life improved hugely.

The only downside is that it was made clear (implicitly not explicitly) that I could say goodbye to any promotions or career advancement. Neither of those bothered me one bit, I was never career driven.

Go for it.

One thing to resolve is how to handle a bank holiday landing on the same day as your day off.  We had one employee who always wanted to shuffle her days off to not hit the bank holidays or long weekends.  Neither forcing her to live with it not allowing her to shuffle as she wanted is entirely fair.

I work around 3/4 normal hours in order to get stuff done at home as well.  As others have mentioned it can be a bit of a killer if you are career driven but it does make for an overall better family life so it works for me.  It can also be a bit frustrating as you can;t get as much done as you know you could before

I do a 4 day week. It's great. That is all.

Would your employers expectations change if you did shorter hours?

I find these days jobs are often measured in outcomes achieved rather than hours worked so you may be expected to get the same results just in less time.

I'm tempted too in the next few years. A stupid driver brike my spine and I'm finding a full week very painful as i do more hours than contracted. I could easily do a 4.5 day week at current working hours (I'm in early most days) or drop to 4 days a week.

One lad does his hours in 3.5 days yet has no dependants. Unfortunately I can't see me being able (allowed) to do that.

Thanks guys - a few things to consider.

Will check work policy and see where I can go from there .

Compressed hours an option? My wife does 8-6 four days a week, gets the pay of full time but has a three day weekend and saves a three hour round trip every week, so gains three hours a week in her life by doing the same hours in a different pattern.

I have to work until 1pm on Fridays. 🙁

My wife and I swapped roles a couple of years ago, she went back to full time and I went on a four day week/term time deal. I think I work the equivalent of 22 hours a week now. The only problem is the knock on effect to pension and any redundancy will be based on the current salary

If your wife requires support and you have kids, your employer is obliged to consider a request for flexible working. Any employer worth working for should consider your situation favourably.