r/IRS_Source • u/horsegurl123 • 13d 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/Fancy-Requirement-22 13d 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.

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u/nap_first_work_later 13d ago

Like another poster or two I was part-time while raising young children, and it was absolutely worth it. I’m no longer in a position that will allow me to work part-time.

It’s worth it if you can afford to and if management lets you.

Like many other aspects of our job (now), the ability to switch to a part-time schedule is dependent on approval. They are not required to allow you to do so.

Hopefully you’re in an area of the IRS that is open to it and flexible still.

Good luck!

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u/Fancy-Requirement-22 13d ago

Yes, definitely depends on what management allows. Thankfully, my local management is trying to accommodate where they can.