https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:45:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728813 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 12:42:47 +0000 looch 2728813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: That's great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728807 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 12:29:53 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2728807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I'm in an hourly grant funded position and I am not allowed to work off the clock...so being off probably wouldn't be a problem. If I end up having to work from home on my day off I would be able to cut hours elsewhere, but that would be unusual. I work for a pretty family friendly organization thankfully. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728778 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 12:00:19 +0000 looch 2728778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't do it, because people don't respect the day off in my place of employment. They would still want you to run calls and check email. </p> <p>I think it's a great option though, if you can organize it so that you're truly off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728706 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 09:41:02 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2728706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: that is an interesting study, though I am not sure it proves anything.... it is certainly something to consider f you have a child who is more aggressive in a daycare setting. It looks like this study is looking at total hours in daycare, however. If we were to adjust to 4 long days our kids would actually spend fewer hours in daycare (42 hours instead of 45) than they do now. Thanks for sharing thorough. I have never seen that research before. Most of what I have seen shows that kids in high quality early childhood settings do not show any negative outcomes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728665 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:54:59 +0000 Pollywog 2728665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MenagerieMama: I am sure you have a great situation for your daughter. It sounds like she loves it! I was referring to impacts from the NICHD study. The study is behind a paywall, but here's the summary <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200505/the-trouble-day-care" rel="nofollow">https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200505/the-trouble-day-care</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728663 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:54:11 +0000 danda 2728663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are typically in daycare for a 9-10 hour day and I can't figure out what I'll effects that would have. They start between 7:30-8:30 and are picked up around 5:30. My company offers an optional seasonal flexible schedule where we work 4x9 hour days followed by a half day on Friday. I find the 9 hour days tough with kids, and the only way it truly works well for me is to work a typical 8 or so hour day and then work more from home after kids are asleep. I also work closely with colleagues in Europe so afternoons are typically quiet due to the time difference - this makes it easy for people to respect the Friday afternoon off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728661 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:45:46 +0000 dc yoga bee 2728661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work a compressed schedule of 7:00-4:30 Mon-Fri, and am off every other Friday. I :heart: it!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728628 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 07:45:30 +0000 MenagerieMama 2728628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: I am going to strongly disagree with the kids seeing negative effects of being in daycare longer than 8 hrs. I work in healthcare and we have a fabulous facility st work open 7 days/wk from 5am-midnight and my LO is usually there for 10 hrs minimum and sometimes 11 if I finish work late. I technically have 8 hour days but I do pick up and drop off every day because we have one car and I'm a doctor and rarely finish work on time. My LO absolutely LOVES school. In fact if I end up arriving when they're about to serve dinner or she's doing a project she doesn't want to leave. And she runs in to find her teacher in the morning. </p> <p>I think if having a day break would benefit your LO then go for it! I think the beginning and end of the day at daycare is usually lower census and the kids really enjoy their time playing and having more teacher attention. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728612 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 07:11:32 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2728612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH technically has a similar schedule, I guess his is 9 x 9. Every other week he works 4 days instead of 5 days. He rarely has the option not to WAH on his day-off day. However, those day-off days are when we try to schedule doctor appointments, so we both can attend. We typically pick LO up early from daycare. There have been two occasions where DH and LO played daycare hooky, which is always fun. Those days were actually bank holidays when DH is off and not his usual day-off day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728582 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 22:46:31 +0000 LindsayLou 2728582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband currently works 4-10s. He's an electrician, so it's not at all uncommon. He prefers it, and I prefer it when he's on 10s as well. It does mean less time with our toddler during the week, but it means that he has 3 whole days with her during the weekend. On work days, he's gone before kiddo and I wake up, and home around 5:45-6. Our kiddo is a night owl though, and stays up til 8:45 ish, so it works for us.</p> <p>I'm between nanny jobs at the moment, but I've had quite a variety of schedules. I far prefer fewer, longer days over shorter, more frequent days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728564 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:25:08 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2728564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyD: The commute is definitely another consideration for us. We are moving next month and it will add 30 minutes each way to our already 20 minute commute. Ick. So far I have never been asked to take a lunch break so I almost always just eat at my desk. I would probably be more social if i didn't but something has to give, right? I would rather give up social time with co-workers than time with the fam at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728562 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:22:25 +0000 JennyD 2728562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My coworker does this. He saves a ton on daycare costs this way. He takes Fridays off and (supposedly) starts work at 6 am and leaves at 4. He also theoretically does not take a lunch break. (Frankly I feel that he abuses this arrangement and I'm somewhat bitter, but this is irrelevant). </p> <p>I would agree that his day off is not always respected and as someone who deals with clients they have an expectation of him being available on his day off (but due to the nature of our work that sometimes also applies to Saturday and Sunday, so...?)</p> <p>Overall though, he loves this arrangement and I'm super jealous. To have a full day home with LO during the week would be awesome. Even just factoring in that you're also saving an extra 2-4 hours each week not commuting, etc is amazing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728560 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:18:54 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2728560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: Sadly, my kids don't sleep anywhere close to 12 hours. I am lucky if my oldest sleeps 8 :( Ugh. I can see that being a struggle though. I guess I figured we would make up for it by having a full extra day off together for adventures. Right now evenings are kind of lame haha :) </p> <p>@Mae: My hours would be totally flexible (I could spread some out on the weekends too if I need to) and I would work 7-5. I could possibly do 7-4 and then make up the 4 hours on my off days. That might be even better.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728549 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:05:42 +0000 Mae 2728549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't do this exactly, but if it is 4 ten-hour shifts and you could adjust your schedule a bit, I'd do it. I currently work 9 hours in-office 5 days per week. I have an adjusted schedule so I work 730-430, and I see my daughter for almost 3 hours every night (she sleeps 8-8, my husband does mornings with her). If I could do 4 ten-hour shifts, from like 7-5, I would totally do it. But if it had to be 9-7 I wouldn't, because I wouldn't see my daughter enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728548 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 19:56:26 +0000 Pollywog 2728548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My coworker did this when returning from maternity leave. A few things she mentioned when I was considering it were:</p> <p>-you won't see your kids. Kids need 12 hours of sleep. A 10 hour day plus commute plus lunch (required by my agency) meant she literally saw her kid for 5 minutes. Kids really see negative effects for being in daycare for more than 8 hours and 10 is the max most around me will allow. </p> <p>- her productivity plummeted. A lot. She found it really hard to stay on task for 10 hours.</p> <p>- work didn't respect she was was off. She was regularly scheduled for meetings on her off days. </p> <p>What we did was negotiate for maxiflex. I work 6-7, get kiddo ready, then 830-4, then 7-8 when I telework and 930-430 when I'm in the office . I have extra hours to take a full or half day every pay period. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-4-long-days-instead-of-5#post-2728536 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 19:41:23 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2728536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anybody work 4 10 hour days instead of 5 8 hour days? How do you like it? </p> <p>We are considering this as an option for next year to give our kiddo who gets overwhelmed at daycare a breather in the middle of the week. The beginning and end of the day are free play and usually when he does the best, so I am not super worried about his day being a little longer...</p> <p>I am curious about your experiences though! Does anyone love this schedule? Or hate it? Would you do it if you could? </p>