Going down to 4-day workweek--change in plans

[whatevergirl]

*:extrahappy:

That smiley is all that is really needed. I was discussing working out of my home with my boss today, and through prayer on this whole thing, I really feel that God pulled away all the layers of fluff, and what it comes down to is…I need a bit of a break. My company has a program that allows me the freedom to go down to a 3 or 4-day workweek. Plus, my dh’s hours are so crazy, that I can schedule my day off around his time off. We don’t see each other enough, we have a great marriage, but that’s not healthy, to have opposite schedules. I sometimes feel like we are two ships passing in the night, and I just feel “disconnected” sometimes from him.

The nice thing is my company is allowing us to ‘buy’ days off at a discounted price…so, the money I’d be losing is nominal. I am excited!!

If you can afford this, do it. It doesn’t affect my vacation days, or benefits…it’s really an awesome program, plus–it looks good to participate in this from a company perspective.

Anyways–there’s my update…I’m going for it. I have always wanted to do a 4-day workweek…my boss is doing it, too. Thanks to all who gave me lots of great feedback on working out of my home. *

 

[Em_in_FL]

That’s FABULOUS!.. I’m so happy for you!!!

Oh I WISH my company did something like this. After my first baby (gosh, 6+ years ago) my direct boss allowed me to go part-time when I first came back to work. That is, until the President of the company found out. He said “all or nothing” and “we don’t want to set any precedents”. That’s what I get for working in a male-centric field like engineering… ZERO FLEXIBILITY.

Anyway… enough griping about my life…

I’m THRILLED for you!.. CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[whatevergirl]

*EM–I feel like a new woman. My dh is thrilled too! Disney is flexible, but they don’t have a buy-back program like this…

You should pitch this…you’d be a heroine, for sure. It saves jobs…saves the company money…it’s a win-win for everyone!*

 

[msugeotech]

Hey now. Watch it lady!

That’s what I get for working in a male-centric field like engineering… ZERO FLEXIBILITY.

 

[whatevergirl]

*Here’s the thing though–I still have the same sales quota. We didn’t expect perfection, did we? I will push…to have a 4 day workweek…it’s worth it. *

 

[msugeotech]

You’ll do fine, don’t sweat it. I’m glad things are working out like you had hoped!!

 

[jwashu]

Excellent news, I wouldn’t worry about the quota as it sounds like God’s taking care of this for you. Just do your best and I’m sure it will all work out!

Joe

 

[EricDavis73]

That’s what I get for working in a male-centric field like engineering… ZERO FLEXIBILITY.

I don’t want to discount the sex-discrimination aspect of it (worked with/around engineers enough to know it’s most definitely a ‘good ole boys’ club at times), but when I hear ‘we don’t want to set any precedents’ it sounds like there are several people (not just you) that would like some flexibility. Take a few hours of your own time and work up a well-written and clear proposal that outlines the benefits to the firm if a ‘flex time’ policy was created. Maybe start small by proposing that there are ‘core hours’ between 10 and 3 that everyone is expected to be there but employees can set their own hours so that they could work 6-3 or 10-8, provided they get all their work done and work at least 40 hours a week. You never know until you try and if you take the initiative to make such a proposal it could get you that flexibility you want AND look really, really good on a resume if you ever needed it.

@whatevergirl: great news! This will be good for you on many levels, especially having more time for the hubby. 'grats!

 

[whatevergirl]

*Thanks Eric!

EM–that is great advice from Eric…why not? Companies need to be proactively thinking, and seriously–this saves jobs. Putting it into perspective…I work for a global company. We employ some 15,000 employees. Ok, if just ONE PERSON takes ONE DAY per YEAR on this plan…the company saves $6 MILLION DOLLARS!!! That’s huge. So, to me, I’m not only doing this for me, but for the company. I contribute to helping them save jobs. It’s a great feeling.

I really appreciate my boss (and God!) helping me sort through what I really needed…and it isn’t to work out of my home, although that would be nice. It’s that I need time. I need time with my husband…I truly feel like a single mother, sometimes. I see my husband during two weekdays, when he has off, but then I’m working. I feel that more family time is needed, instead of just him with the kids, or me with kids. We’re both independent people, but we didn’t get married to live like this. This is like a whole new horizon for me…like the lazy person I am sometimes in reading corporate emails, I did not bother to read this…it was my boss introducing this entire plan and walking me through the whole thing on how to make it work for me. He is doing it, and he said he LOVES it.

EM–put together a business proposal. I understand companies don’t want to set a precedent, but when you get the entire company backing something, it makes all the difference.

Go for it, I say. *

 

[whatevergirl]

Excellent news, I wouldn’t worry about the quota as it sounds like God’s taking care of this for you. Just do your best and I’m sure it will all work out!

Joe

Joe–you are so right! I didn’t even know the details of this, and my boss said…you know, I sense that you need a break…this would be the perfect solution, plus you help the company. I would not have opted for this plan, had he not walked me through the salary calculations, etc…it is a brilliant plan, whoever thought it up!

I said to him, ok…now calculate for a 1 day workweek. lol He laughed.

The key to it all? I asked Mary, if she would pray for me to make the right choice. I marvel every day, at how God works out the details for us. *

 

[jorgeraul3]

We’re trying to do the same here. We’re already on a flex schedule, but me and the engineer want to go to 4 - 10s. Taking a different day off each, that way if the guys in the shop need help there will always be someone who could help.

I’m glad it worked out for you, I hope it works out for us too

 

[whatevergirl]

We’re trying to do the same here. We’re already on a flex schedule, but me and the engineer want to go to 4 - 10s. Taking a different day off each, that way if the guys in the shop need help there will always be someone who could help.

I’m glad it worked out for you, I hope it works out for us too

Oh I hope that works out for you! I can’t see why not.
Companies really need to start getting with it…and doing things a little different than yester-year. If you don’t have upper management and HR thinking outside the box these days, companies are going to continue to go bankrupt. Have to be thinking of instant ways to save money, and asking people to buy days (at a discount so there is still an incentive) is a good way to go. Good luck–keep us posted!

 

[HouseArrest]

We’re trying to do the same here. We’re already on a flex schedule, but me and the engineer want to go to 4 - 10s. Taking a different day off each, that way if the guys in the shop need help there will always be someone who could help.

I’m glad it worked out for you, I hope it works out for us too

That’s usually a great situation because I know a lot of people who work 10’s anyway, when they are supposed to be 8’s.

 

[HouseArrest]

That’s FABULOUS!.. I’m so happy for you!!!

Oh I WISH my company did something like this. After my first baby (gosh, 6+ years ago) my direct boss allowed me to go part-time when I first came back to work. That is, until the President of the company found out. He said “all or nothing” and “we don’t want to set any precedents”. That’s what I get for working in a male-centric field like engineering… ZERO FLEXIBILITY.

Anyway… enough griping about my life…

I’m THRILLED for you!.. CONGRATULATIONS!

It might just be your company, Em, when I was in my 20’s working as an engineer there was one other female engineer on my floor - she had her fourth baby while I was just starting and she pretty much let them know when she’d be in. They were really good about it.

 

[whatevergirl]

*I think companies nowadays are against the gun…pressure like never before in many cases.

So…I’m so excited about this, right…well, I just spoke with my husband, calling from work-- and all managers are going to mandatory overtime…I couldn’t believe it. We are going to one of his niece’s graduation parties, and he is having to work that day, now. He might have to work on our anniversary. I am still going to a 4 day workweek, but I’m just upset because he was so excited about our anniversary and the graduation party. :bighanky:

I’m hoping he can work something out. Please say a prayer that he gets through this, he has been working so much, lately. That’s a good thing, not complaining about that, but everyone needs some downtime–Disney is like a machine. *

 

[srlucado]

I’m really happy for you. Couldn’t happen to a nicer person.

 

[OLHope]

Molto Brava!! Congrats! You are going to love more time for you and your family. That really bites, though, that your hubby has to take on more time, but just like everyone else, it is only until most companies get back on course, everyone needs to do their part a bit harder now, which means more time for you, but less for your dh. At least this might help finishing up projects that were on the backburner for a while, we all have them. In fact that makes me think of an outline I need to search for. See? Always something to do. With that, I will bid everyone adieu, and probably not make an appearance for another week as I usually do. Night everyone!

Congrats again!!!