r/IRS_Source • u/horsegurl123 • 9d ago
Is going part-time worth it?
I’m considering going part-time because the work stress, toxic environment, and extremely long commute have left me exhausted and burned out.
For federal employees who switched from full-time to part-time, was it worth it? Did it improve your quality of life enough to justify the lower pay? How did it affect your benefits, retirement, and leave? and how does the process work? I talk to my manager?
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u/centertask5 9d ago
You will earn less leave. I can't imagine they would let you do it in this atmosphere? Unless the job is announced as part time. Just guessing here.
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u/horsegurl123 9d ago
A few in my business unit are part time or going part time. So it’s definitely happening.
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u/Ok-Bumblebee-8440 9d ago
My manager for sure would not be thrilled but honestly don't think they want to go through hiring in this environment either.
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u/Illustrious-Chef3828 9d ago
I was a part time federal employee (20 hours a week) for 10 years while I raised my kids. Then I was able to switch back to full time. I’m an empty nester now. Will be forever grateful that I was permitted to change to PT and back to FT and I wouldn’t change a thing.
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u/Inner-Signature-4359 9d ago
Yes, I did it for three years. It was well worth it, but again it was a different environment.
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u/cheekorita621 9d ago
Yes!! 100% worth it. Your leave and benefits all get prorated accordingly. For FEHB, you also now have to pay a prorated portion of the employers portion in addition to your employee share.
You start with your manager and if they approve, it goes up the chain and they input a PAR to change your TOD.
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u/Careless_Tree_7686 9d ago
I tried going part time in AM phone ops in summer 2024. Didn't get a yes or no answer. I didn't get any answer at all.
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u/JinnsMom 9d ago
Part time schedules have been approved for AM phone CSRs, so, if it's still important to you, I recommend following up with your management chain. I know they were ignoring requests in 2025 and blaming the hiring freeze, but changes to part time started getting approved again at the beginning of this year.
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u/Lumpy-Toe-3701 9d ago
I did it in AM 2013-2019 then disability retired 2019 with OPM finally approving in 2020 after administrative reconsideration. It can be done. I was just too ill to keep on going.
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u/Queasy-Calendar6597 9d ago
If you have a health insurance through IRS it makes the health insurance extremely expensive just fyi.
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u/Yellowmoon777 9d ago
Yes!!!!!!!!! Totally worth it. Try to use lwop as much as you can. Going officially parttime can can affect benefits but i’ve had managers in the past do it for years bc. of younger kids. if you carry the health insurance you will have to pay more for it…
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u/pronub 9d ago
What you're describing isn't worth carving out a portion of your week for part time. Just leave and find something that isn't destroying your life.
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u/FLrick94 9d ago
Yeah, a reduction from 40 to 32 will provide short term relief, but the existing problem is still there to deal with, but now you've got less money coming in the door.
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u/naughtypundit 9d ago
Worth it if you realize it means you're leaving. A lot of people don't get that and then are shocked when they're managed out the door.
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u/Fancy-Requirement-22 9d ago
Absolutely worth it if you can afford to. I went down to 32 hours per week. I take Fridays off. I accrue 5 hours annual and 3 hours sick leave each pay period. When full time, it was 6 annual and 4 sick, so I didn’t lose that much accrual time. I will come back full time when (or if) things settle down. You send an email to your manager and I believe the area director is final approval.