If you have been following my
husband’s journal you might have seen this but I wanted to make my own post about how this worked out for me.
Our daycare lady is quitting in July and we had decided to both ask to cut back to 4 day workweeks so we don’t have to find another childcare arrangement. I was extremely nervous about because while my husband’s company has a part time policy in their employee handbook, mine does not. After re-reading MMM’s post about The Joy of Part Time Work and listening to the Shia LaBeouf “Just Do It!” Video and my own pump up music many times I asked my boss about it last week at my performance review (which was excellent and I got a 3% raise!) She said she had to consult her boss and HR. I was expecting not to have a straight answer right away.
Today we discussed it again and my company has presented me with three options where I could work two days a week in the office and two at home:
1. 35 hours (technically what I work now, lunch hour is not considered paid) - same pay and benefits.
2. 30 hours - reduced pay, same benefits.
3. 28 hours - reduced pay, lose most benefits.
I’m almost certainly going with option #2. But my boss wanted me to take some time to think about it. She and her boss (a VP of the company) seem baffled that I would accept a pay cut.
I just wanted to share this so that other people who are considering asking their employer for a part time arrangement are encouraged. Working people often have more bargaining power than we think. Especially if we have built up a cache of good will and professional accomplishments - which apparently I have!