Will assume you are programmer, here, if not the dynamic might be different. The presumption is that you get paid less when you work less. And this is true, to

Will assume you are programmer, here, if not the dynamic might be different. The presumption is that you get paid less when you work less. And this is true, to an extent: when I've negotiated a shorter workweek I've typically gotten paid correspondingly less, e.g. at 4 days a week get paid 80% time. But— 1. My experience (https://codewithoutrules.com/2018/02/11/working-long-hours/ https://codewithoutrules.com/2018/02/11/working-long-hours/), and that of others (https://lobste.rs/s/hvjwd6/how_become_part_time_programmer#c_cz4dkd https://lobste.rs/s/hvjwd6/how_become_part_time_programmer#c...) is that working less makes you more productive. You learn how to prioritize, how to avoid wasting time, you're force to plan more... basically you end up a much effective programmer and employee. As a better employee, you can get a better baseline salary. So you're getting 80% of a higher salary. 2. The key to getting a shorter workweek is negotiating. If you have better negotiating skills you can get a higher salary, e.g. merely asking for more than the company's initial offer will usually give you a 10% boost (https://codewithoutrules.com/2019/01/18/negotiate-like-6-year-old/ https://codewithoutrules.com/2019/01/18/negotiate-like-6-yea...). Knowing how to present yourself in a job interview and resume can also give you a salary boost (https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/ https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/). So again, it's possible to get 80% of a higher salary. You'll still get paid less than you could have otherwise... but beyond a certain point I and others at least have found time to be more important than money.