Author Topic: Going Part Time!  (Read 3768 times)

Mrs. Fire Lane

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Going Part Time!
« on: March 01, 2018, 02:52:47 PM »
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!

Secretly Saving

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2018, 04:03:54 PM »
Congratulations and welcome to the club!  Going part time in my field was one of the best decisions I ever made!  Hope it is for you too!!

Lan Mandragoran

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2018, 04:42:00 PM »
Congrats!!!

People are hilarious about pay for time. My boss looked at me like I’d grown a third eye when I told him I valued pto over salary

Brother Esau

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2018, 06:18:25 AM »

 She and her boss (a VP of the company) seem baffled that I would accept a pay cut.


That's because you have the power, not them.

FireLane

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2018, 11:24:57 AM »
I like the idea that people are slightly baffled by what we're doing. I've never been a run-with-the-herd kind of person, and in a weird way, their reaction gives me confidence that it's the right move.

kei te pai

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2018, 11:35:49 AM »
Part time is a life saver! Or sanity saver at least. The physical and mental energy you dont expend at work, and on work related activities, allows you to invest in more thoughtful and often more mustachian living.

Blissful Biker

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2018, 05:40:07 PM »
I have been part time for three years and love it!

In our industry, we get full benefits as long as our normal working week is 24 hours/week or more.  Below that, benefits are pro-rated.

another saver

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2018, 06:29:53 PM »
I'm not sure if I qualify since I actually have two jobs. But my main job is only 3 days/30 hours a week. When the old manager retired I got forced in to it.. At full time. I did it for a few months and told them I needed to go back to my 30 hours or they could find someone else. They obliged.

I keep up a second job where I average about 2 days a month. I can pickup more if needed for cash flow, but it gives me a nice balance while I'm still in savings mode.

maginvizIZ

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2018, 02:10:46 PM »
This...Is... Genius. 

I just emailed my HR rep to see how few of hours I can work and still get full benefits.  That seems to make the most sense.

Obviously, this delays your FI date... But sometimes I think I'm so focused on getting to FI, that I forget to live in the moment.


What was your thought process through it all? How did you get to this decision?  You are badass for doing this!

DreamFIRE

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2018, 03:26:01 PM »
Congrats.   I'm working 40+ per week, but my employer's policy is that 24 hours is enough to get health insurance and other benefits, but whether going to 24 hr will be an option for me next year may be another story.  If not, 1 or 2 days without benefits may be an option, otherwise, I'll probably just completely FIRE.

Mrs. Fire Lane

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2018, 12:12:24 PM »
What was your thought process through it all? How did you get to this decision?  You are badass for doing this!

It was either this or try to find a daycare for our son. There is a nice one in our neighborhood but it's expensive and not convenient for our commute.  My husband was originally planning to go part time in a few years anyway - so we just started early! There's more details in his journal which I linked in the first post in this thread.


Slee_stack

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2018, 02:51:13 PM »
I'm at the start of what will hopefully be a successful PT negotiation.

I've been told repeatedly that 'its not something our department does'.  There's no real valid reason to this.  'Others will want to' seems to be the best excuse they use.  i always counter 'and whats the problem with that?'.  Other depts here seem to cope with PT work just fine.

At least my boss now knows (or claims she understands) that I have zero financial or stability motivations to remain here.  We will see if my 'worklife balance' motivation is taken seriously or not.  I'm ready to walk if it isn't.

I'm hoping to do 4 days / week (would love less), but suspect they'll try to parlay it into 4/5 days every 2 weeks, or just finally cave on being able to WFH and still do 5/5.


These successful posts are motivating me though, so I appreciate them!

DreamFIRE

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #12 on: April 16, 2018, 04:15:13 PM »
If/when I attempt to negotiate staying on part time, more than 3 days will not even be open for consideration.  That's too close to full time, so 3 days is the max for me.  I wouldn't even want to work 3 days it it wasn't for being eligible for benefits with 24 hours/wk.  Otherwise, 1 or 2 days would be plenty.

FireLane

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2018, 07:15:07 PM »
I've been told repeatedly that 'its not something our department does'.  There's no real valid reason to this.

Flawless logic! "Why don't we do it? Because we don't do it."

Chrissy

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Re: Going Part Time!
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2018, 11:59:09 AM »
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!)

From one part-timer to another, you're a badass! 

You might also like the Dwight Schrute psyche up routine:  https://youtu.be/hkRjL2A41QQ