How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

I sit here all the time crunching numbers to see what makes the most sense when #2 comes. I honestly am not sure I'd be happy as a SAHM, but working FT in the city - with my hours, and my stressful job is taking it's toll.

Then I realize my boss probably wouldn't go for a real PT situation b/c too many people have taken advantage of that situation in my office and ruined it for the rest of us. And honestly, being that PT daycare (if I could find it) isn't much cheaper than FT, financially it wouldn't make much sense.

So, then I think, maybe he'd agree to a 4 day work week - if I didn't work Fridays since we're slow that day.

So, I guess I'm just rambling to make sense of this all - but would you give up 20% of your salary for that one day if you were still paying for FT daycare for 2? Paying $2500/mo for daycare and still lose 20% of my salary for that extra day?

Thoughts, suggestions, I'll take anything... I try to figure out a way to make things easier next yr without putting too much strain on us. I try to weigh the pros and cons - being a little tight (or a lot) on $$ vs. potentially losing my sanity I know I can and will adjust back into my 5 day work wk - but I also know what a difference that one day would make. I'd love to be able to have one weekday to do my errands (Target/groceries,etc) and then have the weekend to just enjoy my kids. I hate using my one on one time with Ryan to do errands. The way it is now, I do my errands when he is napping and DH is home (which isn't often since we're not usually off the same days), or I try to go late night - after 9PM when he's asleep - but that gets exhausting.
\
ETS: In this economy, it makes me really nervous to rock the boat in any work environment. I've been with my company 10 yrs - my job is secure - DH always suggests going elsewhere, maybe coming to LI, to make my days shorter/decrease stress but I have it pretty good where I am and quite honestly, I'm not in the mood to start over elsewhere. I feel like if you have a job these days, you keep it unless you're REALLY sure you can make do financially.

Thanks

Message edited 7/16/2009 10:29:51 PM.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

J-I wouldn't volunteer any negotiation of your salary at all! Say-I've been thinking I could probably do most of what I have to do M-Th and come in Friday occasionally or work from home occasionally if needed. What do you think? Then if he brings up salary you can negotiate from there

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

Message edited 7/17/2009 1:04:52 AM.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

I don't think he would go for it then. The only way it would appeal to him is if he gets something out of it (like saving money). And the truth is, someone (my assistant) would need to take my workload that day since I deal with press calls and that can't sit til monday. Also, the point is I don't want to commit to being available on my "day off" because I want to be able to be out and about - not stuck to my house or distracted by work

Message edited 7/17/2009 11:49:56 AM.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

Any other thoughts to help me sort this ?

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

When my mom was sick, my company offered me a flexible schedule of working 2 extra hours per day for 4 days and having one day off per week. I was allowed to also work one day from home as needed. So I worked 30 hours (3 days) in the office/lab, 10 hours from home. It worked out great for me, especially bc I didn't lose any of my salary.
I have since resigned from my job and have an offer to work 3 full days per week, 3/5 of my old salary. MIL can watch Landon ont he days I work. If I had to pay daycare, it wouldn't be worth it.. then I would just stay home and not work at all.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

It took a 50% cut to work only 2 days per week vs a FT job.

But in the end, I am making just about as much as I was making work FT.

- no daycare cost
- no gas back and forth everyday to go to daycare, work, etc..
- no extra gas for DH to go get DS at daycare at night

I work for efficiently and I get all my clients within a 2 day period vs a few everyday over 5-6 days.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

I am trying to come up with some sort of proposal to arrange more time with DS as well. Personally 20% pay cut is worth it. But as others have said, try to work at home on Fri and keep the same salary.

I'm probably going to offer taking a 25% salary cut and 50% bonus cut to work only 4x per week 9-6. I work 60-70 hours now and want to go down to about 35 hours per week.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

Posted by SweetCaroline

Posted by Bridex100

I am trying to come up with some sort of proposal to arrange more time with DS as well. Personally 20% pay cut is worth it. But as others have said, try to work at home on Fri and keep the same salary.

I'm probably going to offer taking a 25% salary cut and 50% bonus cut to work only 4x per week 9-6. I work 60-70 hours now and want to go down to about 35 hours per week.

The problem is I can't imagine being able to work from home with a 2 yr old and NB (or 4-5 month old when I return). I won't get a thing done or I won't be able to give the kids any attention. So, I don't think I can propose that as an option. Plus, I don't want to commit to being home - I want to be able to get my errands done or go to the park or whatever.

I guess, I can propose that I would work via blackberry that day but would have to be prepared to say, "ok, well if you won't let me do that, would you consider letting me have the day if I take a pay cut"

20% of a salary isn't so horrible, but it is if you're paying $2500 in daycare. Say (for example) I bring home $5K a month, that's $1000 less a month plus $2500 for daycare and I still have to pay for my LIRR monthly - so what's that costing me - $3800/mo to work?

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

I think you have to weigh what would work for your family. I KNOW for my family it would not work b/c I make more money than DH and a 20% pay cut would hurt us come bill time....what about asking about working via blackberry and if that doesn't fly then tell him you would take a 10% pay cut and see where it goes from there.

Would it work for you if maybe you could work a reduced day on Fridays? Like 10-4...so that way you're still home by 5:30ish and have a few hours at night...or work a 12-6 or something so you have a little time in the morning and you aren't as rushed?

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

Posted by SweetCaroline

Posted by Mkr09

I think you have to weigh what would work for your family. I KNOW for my family it would not work b/c I make more money than DH and a 20% pay cut would hurt us come bill time....what about asking about working via blackberry and if that doesn't fly then tell him you would take a 10% pay cut and see where it goes from there.

Would it work for you if maybe you could work a reduced day on Fridays? Like 10-4...so that way you're still home by 5:30ish and have a few hours at night...or work a 12-6 or something so you have a little time in the morning and you aren't as rushed?

I know - that's my problem too is that I make more than DH.
I already stroll in by 10 now daily (another reason I wouldn't want to leave - where else can I start at 10 so I can drop DS at daycare after 8AM)?

Message edited 7/17/2009 2:33:19 PM.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

I think percentage wise is the best way to figure it out, 5 days a week, 100%, 4 days a week, 80%, 3 days a week 60% etc. I only get paid for my time in the office, and I only do work that fits in my time in the office, I do no extra hours or no extra work without something in return, usually time off in lieu.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

I gave up A LOT.

I took a 35% paycut when I went from working the city to LI last year (it will be a year in Sept). It was totally worth it for me. Less hours, less stress and a 10 minute commute vs. 1:15.

Then, I just went PT a couple weeks ago - I work Tue/Thurs and then 10 more hours at home at my leisure, so now I make even less.

In less than a year I have taken a 70% pay cut from when I worked in the city , but again, worth it for me. Now I get to spend quality time with DD and I am realizing everything that I have been missing out on. And I also get to work, so I think I have a great balance.

For reference, for FT daycare with extended hours, I paid $307 a week. PT daycare with regular hours (8-6) I pay $168 a week.

So....yes, I think a 20% cut if you can afford it financially, is worth spending extra time with your kids....

Message edited 7/17/2009 3:47:39 PM.

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?

Posted by Tine73

I gave up A LOT.

I took a 35% paycut when I went from working the city to LI last year (it will be a year in Sept). It was totally worth it for me. Less hours, less stress and a 10 minute commute vs. 1:15.

Then, I just went PT a couple weeks ago - I work Tue/Thurs and then 10 more hours at home at my leisure, so now I make around even less.

In less than a year I have taken a 70% pay cut from when I worked in the city , but again, worth it for me. Now I get to spend quality time with DD and I am realizing everything that I have been missing out on. And I also get to work, so I think I have a great balance.

For reference, for FT daycare with extended hours, I paid $307 a week. PT daycare with regular hours (8-6) I pay $168 a week.

So....yes, I think a 20% cut if you can afford it financially, is worth spending extra time with your kids....

Re: How much of your salary would you give up to work a shorter week?/How do you weigh pros/cons?