Do You Work Part Time?

[forHISglory]

I've noticed some posts about working part time, or wanting to work part time, and thought that perhaps your stories and advice might help others.

1. What is your job? What do you do?
2. If you work part time, did you use to work full time and then cut down?
3. Do you plan to go back to full time work? Why?
4. Why do you work part time?
5. What advantages do you have in working part time?
6. What disadvantages do you have in working part time?
7. How do you schedule your work?
8. Is your spouse/family satisfied with your part time work?
9. Do you find your part time work satisfying?
10. What else can you share about your part-time work that might help others?

For me, I retired from full time teaching, but wanted to stay in the field. I don't have any plans to return to full time work as I like just this little bit. Working part time gives me much more flexibility to do things that I have always wanted to do, to be with family and friends, to do volunteer work, etc. The disadvantages are that I no longer have company paid health insurance and retirement, and of course, I no longer have the higher pay check. My husband was very glad that I went to part time. He says that I am a much nicer person now! LOL! And we are enjoying our time together. I find my part time job, which is teaching a couple classes a semester at the local university to be very satisfying. Hubby teaches there, also, and if between us, we teach 3 classes a semester, then it brings in enough money that we can bank the pension check. So this enables us to keep on saving. I like going to work, teaching just one class, and then going home. I like being able to take care of banking, shopping, etc. at hours that are less congested. I like being able to sleep later and eat breakfast in my own kitchen, not in my car. I really like the people that I work with, and the students. I find so much satisfaction here. My schedule is set by the university. They have both day and evening classes, and I usually teach an evening class from 6 to 10 pm. This wouldn't be good for everyone, but I like this schedule. If I teach a day class, it is from 8 to 12. My advice to those considering moving from full time to part time is to consider the cost both in time and money.

[Cricket1]

I work p/t in customer service in retail. I love what I do. I love the company I work for--they offer benefits for part-timers, so that makes a big difference as I pick up dental there. Okay--I'll try to answer all the questions:
1. already answered
2. Yes--I used to work full time and then cut back to part time when I had my kids. I actually used to teach on the college level full-time and then cut back to part. I was still taking a lot of work home with me so for a while I quit and stayed at home full time with the kids. Then I got into retail.
3. I'm not sure if I will go back to work full-time. I'm toying with it right now because both kiddos will be in school full time next year.
4. I work p/t for a variety of reasons: to get out of the house (for sanity reasons), extra money, and dental insurance.
5. Advantages to working part time are many. As you mentioned, with my hours, I'm able to get stuff done during the day. Plus, I don't get bogged down in all the stuff that goes on in the store for all of the full timers. I like to go in, do my job, and then leave!
6. The disadvantages are--less money, and my hours are nights and weekends. My kids don't like it when I have to go to work. BUT--I'm starting to see that although I want my family to be happy, I need to be happy with what I'm doing, too. Where I work, full-timers hours are all over the place. P/t'ers get to choose their hours.
7. I work 2-3 nights/week for 4 hours each night and then 8 hours on a weekend day.
8. My spouse is very satisfied with my work. We're talking about me taking a different job next year, but he loves my benefits.
9. I find my job very satisfying. It's so much fun and I've made many friends there. Everytime I work, I see someone I know (that is there shopping) so it's like social time for me with a little work thrown in!

Another benefit that I can think of (in my situation) is that there is ALWAYS something new to learn. You can't be bored there. Also, I work with mostly men and I love that. No tomatoes, but the jobs that I've had that I've absolutely hated all were in offices with a bunch of women backstabbing each other. Ugh. The men I work with aren't like that at all. I still work with women, but they aren't like that.

[IntlMom]

No, no, and no. I don't work outside the home. I never EVER want to or will have to go back. I don't get bored and I am not busy. I like the quietness of my home. I enjoy spending time scrapbooking, reading, studying, in the garden, etc...... I do some volunteer work at the local homeless shelter, and I really enjoy it, but I don;t ever EVER have to feel like I am "stuck" in a job.....which is how I feel when I am working.

[POOTERSMOMMY]

I worked full time all my adult life, till 2 years ago. I decided to retire a year after my DH did (his is a disability). Then I went back part time because they couldn't find a good replacement. Finanlly the company went out of business in Nov.'07. I basically worked 2 -3 days a month till then.

I also do letter writing or contracts at home for people (cash only). I am now helping a friend get his accounting program set up for his new business out of his house. (again cash only) Maybe 5 hours a week for 3 or 4 weeks.

Otherwise I have no intentions on working FT again! I am a caregiver for my DH and I keep plenty busy with house and yard work.
I love my life.

[luv-my-lexi]

1. I work 3 hours a day as a personal secretary. It is for an older gentleman that sold his family business to his son-in-law and we are in a different location than the business, so none of that carry-over of someone called in sick or we need help and having me do it. So though it sounds strange, the company pays me a great hourly wage, vacations, holidays and I have 401K and medical reimb.

2. I started out working full-time and then when I became pregnant I was going to quit. I trained someone and left when my daughter was born. They called me 3 months later asking if I would just come back a few hours a day till they could find someone and I have been here ever since. I have worked for this family for 12 years now. I came back at 3 hours a day then went up to 5 hours a day then crept up to 6 hours a day and I finally told them I just wanted 5 hours or less period and couldn't be happier with the 3 hours a day I have now.

3. I don't want to ever have to go back to full time again. I am so much happier now not being controlled by a job!!

4/5. I work part-time to make some extra money and to be able to go to all of my dd's school functions and get her to her after school activities ~ many of which start before a 9 - 5 person gets off. I also seem to be able to keep my house under control and shop more wisely since I have so much more time during the day and when things are kept up during the week you don't have that frantic weekend time of trying to get everything done~ it is for family and family activities.

6. I guess my only disadvantage is a smaller paycheck.

7. I work Monday-Friday usually about 9:30 - 12:30 but my boss does not care what hours I work so if I have something to do or if my dd is sick and I am waiting until my dh gets off work so he can keep her ~ I can just work different hours.

8. My family LOVES me working part-time....I'm less gripey, home cooked meals, just lots more time for them without feeling so tired and worn out from a stressful job.

9. I do find my work satisfying and any day I don't really have anything to do I can play on the computer or read a book and I love my boss.......he is very kind.

10. I was lucky that I have been able to cut down gradually on my hours. I have always been worried that if I decided I really wanted to just stay home could we afford it??? Well, with cutting down my hours I have found out that I'm sure we could easily. We are just paying off our spring break trip and my husband is going out of town in April and after those bills are paid I plan on putting my whole paycheck in savings. That is the ultimate test for me to see if/when I end up leaving I could stay home.

[TurtleAngel01]

I work full-time AND part-time. Gotta pay the bills somehow! But I absolutely love, love, LOVE my part-time job (as a funeral assistant), so it never feels like a chore to go to that job. Even if I got a better-paying full-time job, I'd have a hard time leaving my part-time job behind.

[kellydoeshair]

I work between 45 and 50 hours at my salon
I"m happy doing it
I was working TWO jobs at about 75ish hours a week
so I"m loving this

[bmiltimore]

1. What is your job? What do you do?

I am a Manager of Human Resources & Administration for an Orthotic/Prosthetic company.

2. If you work part time, did you use to work full time and then cut down?

Yes, I worked full-time for 6 years then cut back to part-time with the birth of my daughter. I just had a son 6 months ago and still work the same part-time schedule of 3 days a week for about 18-20 hours a week.

3. Do you plan to go back to full time work? Why?
Maybe when my kids are in school full-time, but I'm in no hurry.

4. Why do you work part time?

I want to raise my kids and enjoy them. My MIL & FIL retired early and they happily watch my kids while I work. Without them--I wouldn't do it.

5. What advantages do you have in working part time?

Very flexible schedule, less gas used, fewer work clothes, less stress, etc.

6. What disadvantages do you have in working part time?

Less money, no medical (on DH's plan), slower growth in the company, jealousy from full-time coworkers.

7. How do you schedule your work?

Same schedule for 4+ years now, Tues/Wed/Thurs 9-4

8. Is your spouse/family satisfied with your part time work?

Yes - but DH would love to see me work full-time and bring home more $$

9. Do you find your part time work satisfying?

Very! I love my job, I love what I do. I feel like I can really accomplish things at work.

10. What else can you share about your part-time work that might help others?

Don't be afraid to ask for a part-time schedule. Just make yourself a valuable employee and let them know it is a win-win for both of you. I am more productive part-time than I was full-time. I make much better use of my time at work.

Another weird thing about working 3 days and being home the other days is I don't quite fit in with other moms. I am not a SAHM and I'm not a working mom so I am in "Mom Limbo" with other moms. It's weird.

[Ceashels]

1. What is your job? What do you do? I clean houses for friends and church memebers.
2. If you work part time, did you use to work full time and then cut down?I used to work full time in a hospital and wanted to work part time after I married.
3. Do you plan to go back to full time work? Why? I would go back to full time if we needed the finances or medical insurance.
4. Why do you work part time? I tried the stay at home wife but it drove me insane. I felt as though I had less purpose and less autonomy. I had no money coming in and therefore was dependent on my spouse. DH does not agree with that (which is good) but I was raised to be very independent and to suddenly find myself dependent drove me nuts.
5. What advantages do you have in working part time? I have time to take care of the house, garden, learn to be domestic, cook from scratch, etc. I also have my own money that I can use as I choose and that means a lot to me.
6. What disadvantages do you have in working part time? If my hours go above 20 per week I find my house keeping suffers the most because when I get home I am just too tired to do more. This is true on my heavy scheduled days as well.
7. How do you schedule your work? I try to work no more than 4-5 hours of cleaning a day, 4-5 day each week. I have 4 homes in another town about 30 mins from me so I double up on them and they are my most tiring days so I try to do a crock pot dinner or a thaw and heat from the freezer. Lately I've been working 5 days a week and it has been a little too much for me to keep up with everything.
8. Is your spouse/family satisfied with your part time work? He says he is very satisfied with the arrangement unless the house gets overwhelming LOL.
9. Do you find your part time work satisfying?Very satisfiying. Many of my clients are elderly and home bound or still working and not in the way. I love old people so we sit and chat about how life was when they were growing up(They are an incredible resource). It is also satisfying to go in, clean and see that I made a differenc.
10. What else can you share about your part-time work that might help others? I love the flexibility of keeping my own schedule if I'm running late, nobody cares. I can garden in the morning before I leave and I get home before DH. I set my days and my work load and I am my own boss so I can reschedule around DH's vacation and snow days with very little problem. On the downside, if I don't work, I don't get paid.

[Buc-O-Mama]

1. What is your job? What do you do? I'm an instructor/manager of a cooking school for kids

2. If you work part time, did you use to work full time and then cut down? Nope, I was a SAHM for 14 yrs. and went back to work when I found something I loved to do.

3. Do you plan to go back to full time work? Why? No immediate plans to make any changes.
4. Why do you work part time? It fits my family's lifestyle

5. What advantages do you have in working part time? I have set times that can be devoted to my home life and my interests

6. What disadvantages do you have in working part time? None for me

7. How do you schedule your work? Around scheduled classes and events.

8. Is your spouse/family satisfied with your part time work? Yes

9. Do you find your part time work satisfying? Very

10. What else can you share about your part-time work that might help others? Just that doing something you enjoy and still get paid to do is a blessing that I wish for everyone at some point in their life

[FrugalMomof3]

I work part-time taking care of my grandmother M-F from 8:30am-12:15pm, I use to work a full time job years ago until the company was sold to another company located in Chicago... I started working from home for the NEW company but was part-time and laid off due to them wanting to have the work I did, done in house.

I love working part-time (especially from home) but me working n the mornings give me the rest of the day to do what I have to do.

I dont want to go back to working full-time, unless in the future I either become a single mom or something similar.

If I worked full-time, my house would be a disaster and nothing would ever get done, I like being a SAHM even though my children are 12 and up, my DH like it this way and so do I.

[DaisySue]

Been married 26 years and have only worked part-time since marriage and there were a few years when I was full-time SAHM. I work mostly just for the money. If the money weren't an issue, I would love to be home that is where my heart is. I work 24 hpw at a job I really, really love now! Husband wishes I worked full-time, always has put pressure on that, but I stand my ground as he only wants more $ to blow on stuff he wants.

I am fully responsible for housework, laundry, cooking, pets, kids (only 1 left at home now), so I always felt like that was my full-time job.

I think there are many advantages to working part-time. It causes you to be more organized about your home chores, but gives you the time to actually be there more. I feel I would be completely stressed if I worked full-time. I am one woman WHO CANNOT DO IT ALL! Although, I envy those who can!

[suzysaver]

I worked full time for 10 years and then the company moved to mexico. I stayed at home for 3 years doing the house wife thing and going crazy. They started construction on a new Fred Meyer (Kroger) store about 3 miles away.. so I applied for the childcare area and got the lead position with full benefits (got lucky). I enjoy part-time work, it gives me time to keep the house clean and staight and get the shopping done...more time to cook from scratch. More time and less stress. I would go back to full time if I had to, but I wouldn't be very happy. I don't have children of my own, so this job works great for me.

[midwestgal]

I work one evening each week as an adult ESL teacher. I also sub quite a lot in elementary schools. This varies as I don't know how many times I will be called each month, but I seem to stay busy! My 4 children are grown, and it is just hubby and I and the dog now, but this works well for us. I still have time to stay on top of everything in our household and flex my frugal muscles! I like the flexiblility of this now that we have a brand new granddaughter clear across the country. I try to see her as often as possible!

[banana]

I work part time out of my house and love it. I schedule my own hours so the weeks that I can work more I do and the weeks that I need to work less are not a problem either.

This works out so well for my family. I start my day early so I can get a few hours in before school and try to finish up my work day by 12 or 1 pm