Help me transition to part-time

[sirkinm]

I've been having some success with my internet ventures, though I don't want to completely leave my job...yet. I feel a responsibility to my firm, and I want to keep getting a constistent income while I ensure that my internet income streams are here to stay.

What's more, I swear that I can do virtually the same amount of work in half the time -- I get fatigued when going 8 hours, but can keep up excellent productivity if I know I'm working only 4.

However, I work for a very traditional firm (over 100 years old!), and they're not inclined to make arrangements like this...even if I tell them that I could do as much work with half the hours and pay.

I NEED to ask though, because I think it'd be an ideal situation. I need to start the conversation with the head of my dept. I'm not sure what to say about my internet business -- will they feel threatened if I mention it? It's not at all a conflict of interest issue -- my internet stuff biz has nothing to do with my employer's sector.

Any tips?

[LVGeneration]

What I always like doing when it comes to something "official" like that is put it in writing. I don't think any conversation would compare to the impact of a well-written paper.
Maybe you could make a nice analysis of how your new work schedule would work, what advantages it would bring to the company, make calculated predictions, incorporate any little thing that might help you with your request. The bosses will love to see that you did your research and it's not just a sudden desire of yours to go part-time. They will also be able to visualize better how this new arrangement would work if you attach graphics, keep it very "clean" and professional, and show very convincingly the benefits of the switch.
Print out your paper and hand them a couple of copies, explaining the main points of your paper as you hand it to them. For example: "If you look at page 3, you will notice a function graph and a histogram that represent what my productivity has been so far and what my predictions are for the future. Fewer hours of work would mean less money the company has to spend on my paycheck and also greater productivity from me. I would have no breaks, no interruptions, and potentially no days off."
Just do your homework and be very prepared when you make the request. Impress them and make them consider it. Take them by surprise with how well you investigated this. Maybe you could even convince them to do a trial, see how it would work, and if their not satisfied you will go back to your regular schedule.

Hope this helps a little bit!

[SarahJaynee]

I urge you to start small. Make something up and ask them for 2 or 3 weeks when you will work some of the time from home. Don't mention working LESS at all, just that maybe for the next 2 weeks you need to work from home on Tuesdays and Fridays or 8-1pm everyday etc.
Make sure you are HIGHLY VISIBLE during this time, as in your work productivity is highly visible.
There is no upside to mentioning your other business at all - it will be met with fear, and rightly so really as one day you WILL leave your current job for your own business.
During the trial period make sure you work your butt off and achieve twice what you normally do. You can use this as leverage when you then negotiate a more permanant home shift.
On a side note however, have more faith in your business and yourself. The energy you are going to put into persuading your co to let you work less hours could be put into your own business. You obviously don't love your job, and don't relish their "stuck in their ways" attitude.
Maybe you should have the conversation with yourself about persuading YOU to make that final leap from employee to self-employed.

[ragtag]

Just a small note. I once worked 80% at a job, spread over the week. So rather than working 4 days and having three days, I worked 5 days a week, but fewer hours. The problem was that many times I didn't go home earlier, like I should, and even when I did, there was very little noticable difference for me. I might as well have worked full time. Don't fall into that trap.

Another time I worked 60%, working three days a week, while working on my own project in my free time. That was a much better solution. I was more effective during the 60% than I would normally have been, as I felt more energized and because I felt I had limited time to complete my work. I think that was a win win situation for both me and my employer....except, of course, I got less pay. During that time I felt a lot better too, as I was exercising more regularly and generally in more control of my life....evne though I did spend the remaining 40% or more of my work hours actually working on my own project....so in effect was working full time. I plan to do it again in the not too far future.

I agree with the other posters that you don't need to mention your other business to your employer. That will just scare them, because if your business takes off, you'll leave them for good...right. You don't need to give a reason, but you could always say you want to spend more time with your family or focus on yourself for a while or something.

Good luck.

[sirkinm]

Thanks for the tips. My department is small and we're all pretty open with each other. My work doesn't lend itself to making graphs about my productivity and such.

It's the firm that's rigid -- my dept is fairly laid-back. My supervisor has to report to the big wigs, who probably would frown on this idea. Nevertheless, I will consider all your comments, and I'm thinking how else I can make this proposition without mentioning my business.

[Lauxa]

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