Seriously considering switch to Part Time

[disneysteve]

Obviously give your boss/schedulers plenty of notice (a month or more wouldn't hurt) about your intentions, just to maintain the relationship, ensure they aren't caught off-guard, and have plenty of time to adjust for your reduced hours.

No problem there. My contract requires 120 days notice. However, they do handle that on a case by case basis. My lead physician told me that she has several per diem providers who want to become part time but there currently are no openings. If I drop down and free up the space for a part time spot and one of them takes it, they may let me out of my full time obligation sooner than 120 days.

if you (shockingly) discover the retired life isn't for you, I guarantee that your clinic would be happy if you decided to re-up your hours and return to full-time.

Actually, it isn't that easy. Dropping from FT to PT is easy. Going from PT to FT requires there being a position available and right now we are fully staffed with a few people on deck waiting for slots to open up.

That said, there is another option. As a part timer (or full timer for that matter), we are always free to pick up open shifts as they occur. If someone is out sick or on vacation or out on leave, there are hours that need to be filled. We can't operate with holes in the schedule. I don't often pick up extra shifts since I already work full time and just don't have the time or energy to do more, but if I'm only working 24 hrs/wk, I'd be much more open to taking an extra shift now and then if we've got nothing going on. It would give me something to do and give us some extra money. A 4-hour weekend shift earns me over $600 so it's a pretty sweet deal. I seriously doubt I'd ever go back to FT once I drop down though.

[disneysteve]

Thanks for all of the replies. I know it's the right move but it always helps to hear it from a bunch of others.

[bjl584]

Sounds like a good move. You've mentioned in another thread that the only reason to keep working is to keep accumulating money. Money that you've stated that you really don't need anyways.

I'd drop down to PT and see what the world has to offer. Whether it be more travel, a hobby, or just relaxing.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Part time for sure. I see full time soon enough for you!

[GoodLiving]

I just want to say congrats and best wishes that retirement is all you hope it will be.

[disneysteve]

Sat down and talked with DW about this today. She is 100% onboard. She would love for me to work less no matter what that means financially. She is very willing to cut back if we need to and watch our spending better if that's what it takes for it to work. And she understands it might mean a bit of a delay in buying a place in Florida just to let everything settle and be sure where we stand before we take that on. I will email my lead physician and see if we can meet on Tuesday (that's usually our meeting day) and be able to talk to her in person.

[srblanco7]

Sat down and talked with DW about this today. She is 100% onboard. She would love for me to work less no matter what that means financially. She is very willing to cut back if we need to and watch our spending better if that's what it takes for it to work. And she understands it might mean a bit of a delay in buying a place in Florida just to let everything settle and be sure where we stand before we take that on. I will email my lead physician and see if we can meet on Tuesday (that's usually our meeting day) and be able to talk to her in person.

Great news. Congratulations DisneySteve!

[kork13]

Sat down and talked with DW about this today. She is 100% onboard. She would love for me to work less no matter what that means financially. She is very willing to cut back if we need to and watch our spending better if that's what it takes for it to work. And she understands it might mean a bit of a delay in buying a place in Florida just to let everything settle and be sure where we stand before we take that on. I will email my lead physician and see if we can meet on Tuesday (that's usually our meeting day) and be able to talk to her in person.

WOOHOO!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

So what happened at the meeting

[disneysteve]

So what happened at the meeting

I officially gave my notice today. I had to do it in writing. I will switch from 36 to 24 hours. I don’t have the effective date yet. It could be anywhere up to 120 days from now. I spoke to my Lead and requested 3 8-hr shifts and no 12-hr shifts. I also requested not to be on both Monday and Tuesday. When I have a confirmed date I’ll post an update.

[srblanco7]

I officially gave my notice today. I had to do it in writing. I will switch from 36 to 24 hours. I don’t have the effective date yet. It could be anywhere up to 120 days from now. I spoke to my Lead and requested 3 8-hr shifts and no 12-hr shifts. I also requested not to be on both Monday and Tuesday. When I have a confirmed date I’ll post an update.

Nice. Congratulations!

[disneysteve]

Nice. Congratulations!

Thanks. DW both feel like we ought to be more excited or should be celebrating somehow but we're not, or at least not yet. Of course, it could be 4 months before it actually happens, so it's not like anything will change next week. I guess it won't feel "real" until that first week of fewer hours and then the first reduced paycheck.

[bjl584]

Congrats!
Let us know how it goes

[myrdale]

I think switching to part time vs flat out retiring is an excellent idea. I hope this works out well for you.

[amarowsky]

I officially gave my notice today. I had to do it in writing. I will switch from 36 to 24 hours. I don’t have the effective date yet. It could be anywhere up to 120 days from now. I spoke to my Lead and requested 3 8-hr shifts and no 12-hr shifts. I also requested not to be on both Monday and Tuesday. When I have a confirmed date I’ll post an update.

Very happy for you!

Above I was reading a bunch about you thinking this will be a slippery slope into full retirement....

But I hope it maybe opens a door to working even longer, and hopefully always shaving off hours (on average) as you feel more comfortable. Nothing wrong with working for your whole life, as long as you're not making work your entire life!

I've moved to a more part time role. I'm making just a sliver less than I used to (minus benefits, although leaning on wife's for mine now) with much less work than I used to. Probably around 30 hours less (after you whack out the drive n' prep time). And I've never been happier w/ my work/life balance. I know you also have a boatload of hobbies and curiosities (I remember being floored when you got into whiskey a several years ago. I didn't think that was up your alley) , it would be fun to watch a new/current hobby of yours manifest into something between a hobby and a job .

Having a little extra time is just utterly satisfying! Excited for you! (it would be nuts to see your post count INCREASE here too! lol)