I dropped from full-time work down to four days when I returned to work following the birth of my twins. At that stage I needed the excuse of my caring commitments to be allowed to apply through the flexible working request, but since 2014 the opportunity is open to all – which is a relief as I can’t now imagine ever working full-time again. There was a bit of worry when I wanted to move job, as almost every post was advertised as a full-time, but luckily there was no issue with applying to work just 4 days a week, and they were able to hire another employee to the role at the same time working 2 days a week. My present environment seems particularly set up and receptive to flexible working. We are a service provider, so have standard protocols that we all follow. Having more of us each working less means that days off are covered and the work keeps getting done even when one person isn’t in.
The ONS reports that there are now more than 8 million part-time workers, and their numbers also suggest that the percentage of those people who are doing it by choice, rather than an inability to find a full-time job, is increasing. In our team we work an average of 4 days a week. Of our 13 members of staff only 5 work full-time standard hours, there are a couple more on full-time contracts but compressed hours and the rest of us work 2-4 days a week.
Edinburgh CRF Genetics Core 