My job moved to a 30-hour-week and immediately made my life better

smelling the crisp morning air, I feel serene, utterly at ease.

There had been no frantic scramble.

Now that I've found a spare moment, I can finally sit back and relax before starting work.

It can be difficult to experience moments like these, especially when you're working a full-time job.

Thanks to the flexibility of my job at the Women's Budget Group (WBG) and its more relaxed working-week policy, I'm now encountering these moments a lot more often, almost to the point where they've become quite routine.

It has really got me thinking: shouldn't a 30-hour working week be the norm for everyone?

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Although it was the correct choice, the initial few months were quite challenging for me, as my household expenses suddenly skyrocketed, leaving me uncertain about how I'd manage both emotionally and financially to look after myself and my son within this changed situation.

Gradually, things became more manageable. We managed to achieve a good partnership in co-parenting, and thanks to the flexibility of my job - I was, by now, already working from home on a 36 hour contract - we were coping all right.

It absolutely shocked the life out of me.

Even though our romantic relationship had ended, he'd still be the other parent to our child. The thought of being entirely responsible for raising our child on my own, rather than us working together as co-parents, was a daunting prospect.

fortunate it was treatable, but it would mean undergoing a lengthy and arduous course of treatment, and it would also mean me having to take on significant single parenting responsibilities at a time when my son was about to start school.

I suddenly found myself up against a wall. I required a longer timeframe as well as additional finances.

I'd be willing to work up to 40 hours a week to boost my paycheque, but it would mean giving up time with my child, which is essential for me. Plus, having no family support around me wouldn't leave me with anywhere to turn for help.

– I only had to complete a 30 hour workweek, working flexible hours that suited me best, and at the same time securing a full-time salary increase

I couldn't have asked for it to arrive at a more convenient moment.

It required considerable effort and preparation from the staff involved, and from the board a certain amount of optimism to push the idea forward, but come January, my shorter working week came into effect.

Just as soon as my rota changed, everything seemed a little more achievable. I no longer had to decide between earning enough to support my child financially and being there physically for him.

I could attend to pick him up from school and spend some time at the park afterwards, all because I have the flexibility to arrange my work around my schedule.

Wouldn't typically be the case, that is, I'd usually work while he was at school, taking afternoons and mornings off to spend time with him, though if he had days with his dad, I'd put in longer hours to make up for it.

This managed to free up small pockets of time for me to relax between my work and parenting responsibilities. I found myself with opportunities to enjoy a warm cup of coffee or take the time to read a book before going to bed.

It has been a huge help, keeping me afloat when I worry I'd otherwise be drowning.

The more I reflect on it, the more I ponder how I would have coped with being a level-headed parent alongside ensuring I earned sufficient funds to provide for my child.

The short answer is, I don't think I would've been able to manage even with the flexible working arrangements that are standard practice at WBG.

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I'm drawn to describing the shorter working week as groundbreaking, but I also have the feeling that doing so might not be entirely accurate.

I have concerns that this attitude reinforces the notion that working slightly fewer hours to balance paid and unpaid responsibilities is an idealistic, unattainable concept, which only leaves people struggling financially, their health failing, and feeling depressed.

Have we sunk so low as a society that such mediocrity is what passes for our idea of perfection?

Of course, there are challenges to be overcome in implementing a shorter working week across all sectors and occupations.

I acknowledge that jobs in sectors such as hospitality and manufacturing can present greater difficulties due to the necessity of human personnel being physically present to deliver services or goods.

I appreciate that additional expense will arise for businesses as a consequence of, for instance, needing to take on extra personnel or providing pay increases to existing part-time workers.

Let's not overlook the fact that, from a broader societal perspective, there's often an underlying assumption that being productive requires spent time in an office environment.

None of these situations are inconceivable to surmount.

We were mindful of these factors when developing our policy suggestions and, as a whole, both our team and the organisation have indeed benefited.

We've introduced a fresh way of working that includes slashing meetings and making the most of artificial intelligence to streamline administrative duties. As a result, employees are enjoying a healthier work-life balance, leading to less staff absences and a generally more content workforce.

My point is this: as a society, we can no longer dismiss the idea of a shorter working week as unrealistic when individuals and families of all backgrounds continue to struggle to balance everything.

What will it take to acknowledge that the way we're working just isn't working for anyone, especially not for those who are also trying to balance it with caring duties?

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I greatly enjoy my current work-life equilibrium. I appreciate the opportunity to take my child to school, and subsequently earn a living wage by doing meaningful work which brings me satisfaction, ahead of collecting him again. In fact, I'm even content with having more free time in the evenings, giving him the chance to ask me approximately seven hundred times when supper will be ready.

It's a lovely way of living now, but wanting it doesn't seem like a radical thing to have done.

I understand that the reduced working week alone won't bring about gender equality. It can't on its own address the uneven distribution of paid and unpaid work and care responsibilities. To make real progress, we'll need a suite of robust policies, including universal free nursery education and childcare provision, extended paid paternity leave, and a comprehensive overhaul of employment laws and workers' rights.

But if we genuinely want to witness a change, we must introduce more resolute policies.

We should be bold as a nation when striving for the general adoption of the four-day working week, and we must not be intimidated into thinking we are making extravagant demands when we propose this change.

In my case, a shorter working week is a significant factor in making life more manageable.

This piece was originally published on 16 January 2024.

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