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“40 hours is what they are set up for and it is hard for them to figure out how to be flexible, even if they want to.” I had the same experience. asked for 32

“40 hours is what they are set up for and it is hard for them to figure out how to be flexible, even if they want to.” I had the same experience. asked for 32 hours week with corresponding pay cut. The HR people barely could comprehend the idea and certainly didn’t have a process for dealing with such a request.

Viliam1234 7y ago
I also tried to get a 32-hour week, interviewed with multiple companies, and at the end got a deal for mere 50% of my usual (40-hour) salary. And the company still felt they were doing me a big favor. Within my probationary period I decided that 50% of money for 80% of time is too much of a discount; that I could simply work full-time for a year or two and then take a break for a year or two instead. But I never actually took that break. There are many companies complaining how they can't find enough competent programmers. But almost none of them is willing to provide part-time work as a benefit. I believe that a software company that would publicly declare a 4-day workweek would soon have hundreds of people begging for an interview.
- Ididntdothis 7y ago
  I don’t think they would even lose much productivity. When I count the number of useless meetings I have to attend I could probably produce the same results with a 3 day week.
- Hannan 7y ago
  I currently work 28 hours per week. This is the second time this has happened in my career. Both times the path was "be an FTE for a while at 40hr/wk, produce, wait for something bad to be suggested, quit, take contractor offer for same pay at reduced hours." I don't imagine this works for companies with employees numbering over ~250 or so, so I've been very lucky.
Aeolun 7y ago
It was fairly common (when I lived there a few years ago) in the Netherlands to negotiate down to 80% time, and I even managed 60% once. Of course it’s a pay cut, but it was fantastic :)

Viliam1234 7y ago

I also tried to get a 32-hour week, interviewed with multiple companies, and at the end got a deal for mere 50% of my usual (40-hour) salary. And the company still felt they were doing me a big favor. Within my probationary period I decided that 50% of money for 80% of time is too much of a discount; that I could simply work full-time for a year or two and then take a break for a year or two instead. But I never actually took that break. There are many companies complaining how they can't find enough competent programmers. But almost none of them is willing to provide part-time work as a benefit. I believe that a software company that would publicly declare a 4-day workweek would soon have hundreds of people begging for an interview.

Ididntdothis 7y ago
I don’t think they would even lose much productivity. When I count the number of useless meetings I have to attend I could probably produce the same results with a 3 day week.
Hannan 7y ago
I currently work 28 hours per week. This is the second time this has happened in my career. Both times the path was "be an FTE for a while at 40hr/wk, produce, wait for something bad to be suggested, quit, take contractor offer for same pay at reduced hours." I don't imagine this works for companies with employees numbering over ~250 or so, so I've been very lucky.

Aeolun 7y ago

It was fairly common (when I lived there a few years ago) in the Netherlands to negotiate down to 80% time, and I even managed 60% once. Of course it’s a pay cut, but it was fantastic :)