Would you go for a 4 day cover or 5 day on a duty you like?

Post by **postiewhite** » 07 Oct 2020, 20:04

We are having a repick at our office and these are my choices. The 5 day part time duty is one of my favourites but ive also been given the option for a 4 day cover (4 duties) but an extra day off. The latter I would sacrife Saturdays but the days off are Wed and Thurs.
Which would you pick if it was you?

Post by **rambo1** » 07 Oct 2020, 20:20

postiewhite wrote:We are having a repick at our office and these are my choices. The 5 day part time duty is one of my favourites but ive also been given the option for a 4 day cover (4 duties) but an extra day off. The latter I would sacrife Saturdays but the days off are Wed and Thurs.
Which would you pick if it was you?

Wednesday and Thursday off every week. Where do I sign. Honestly you'd soon get used to 4 duties. There would, I would say ,plenty of scope for working one of your days off if you wanted to. What's the normal rota for the other duty, 1 in 6? If so you're only giving away 8 Saturdays a yr. Only you will know what's the right choice for you though.

Post by **postiewhite** » 07 Oct 2020, 20:24

Yes the other is 1 in 6. My only worry is that in the future they could take that 4 day under your feet and make you work 5 days. Im not suggesting this will happen and nothing has suggested that but RM changes you never know whats around the corner. Im still temped to go for the 4 day cover though

Cucumber · Post by **Cucumber** » 07 Oct 2020, 20:52

The 4 day cover staff in our office say that they would never willingly give it up, such is the good work/life balance.

Post by **rambo1** » 08 Oct 2020, 10:14

Cucumber wrote:The 4 day cover staff in our office say that they would never willingly give it up, such is the good work/life balance.

Exactly. I used to have a nine day fortnight rota until the Union and management joined together to get us on 1 in 6. It's night and day better work life balance on nine day fortnight compared to the 1 in 6. I'd go for the four day week anytime.

Pharox · Post by **Pharox** » 08 Oct 2020, 15:48

In my old office, I worked a 4 day week. Working Mon, Tues, Wed and Sat. Thurs and Fri off every week, it was great. It was tough sometimes not having a Sat off.

streets97 · Post by **streets97** » 08 Oct 2020, 17:11

Take the 4 days

Post by **IloveMYredTROLLEY!** » 08 Oct 2020, 17:37

If you don't relish being moved from pillar to post, being taken off your day off cover often for illogical operational needs, take the single duty five day.

Just don't be swayed to deliver the whole duty everyday at all costs, just do what you can at a sensible pace within the contracted hours, taking your paid meal relief (30mins for a 5-6hrs59mins day).

Kooyong · Post by **Kooyong** » 08 Oct 2020, 17:42

Remember though your holiday entitlement is less when you work 4 days as it would be if you worked 5

Post by **rambo1** » 08 Oct 2020, 18:03

Kooyong wrote:Remember though your holiday entitlement is less when you work 4 days as it would be if you worked 5

No it's not, you only need 4 days for a week off instead of five.

Post by **postiewhite** » 08 Oct 2020, 18:04

Kooyong wrote:Remember though your holiday entitlement is less when you work 4 days as it would be if you worked 5

Im not sure it would be though. I pay for POAL to have 6 weeks off a year. Id still be entitled to 6 weeks off surely.

Post by **1on4** » 08 Oct 2020, 18:14

Kooyong wrote:Remember though your holiday entitlement is less when you work 4 days as it would be if you worked 5

That is absolutely WRONG.

stoneybroke · Post by **stoneybroke** » 08 Oct 2020, 18:31

postiewhite wrote:
Kooyong wrote:Remember though your holiday entitlement is less when you work 4 days as it would be if you worked 5
Im not sure it would be though. I pay for POAL to have 6 weeks off a year. Id still be entitled to 6 weeks off surely.

Yeah, ignore that mate. I dropped down to a 4 day week a couple of years ago and my holiday entitlement stayed the same.

mickeymacca · Post by **mickeymacca** » 08 Oct 2020, 18:52

I think the colleague may mean if your contract hours are lowered by doing 4 days as opposed to doing 5 then this will consequently result in less holiday pay. But yeah your holiday entitlement doesn't change a bit, and on 4 days a week you are entitled to the full allocation of 8 Bank holidays, below 4 days this is pro-rata. I'd recommend wholeheartedly....

regards

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 08 Oct 2020, 19:11

4 day week all the way.