For most jobs, the typical five-day workweek used to be the standard. Compressed work schedules, on the other hand, are becoming more popular as more businesses see the benefits of these non-traditional work schedules.
Flexible work schedules are being used by some businesses to keep work flowing while retaining current personnel levels. A compressed work schedule has many advantages for employees, making flexible scheduling appealing.
Before deciding on a compacted schedule, an employee and employer should weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the agreement.
In this post, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the topic: what is a compressed work schedule? We’ll also examine the pros and cons of a compressed work schedule.
Make sure you read through this post carefully as what we’ll discuss will be of great value.
What is a Compressed Work Schedule?
A compressed work schedule is one in which employees work a full-time schedule equivalent to 80 hours over two weeks in less than five days or an otherwise nontraditional arrangement.
Employees still work 40 hours per week, but instead of working eight hours Monday through Friday, they might work ten hours per day for a total of four days per week, with one day off in the middle.
Working four days instead of five is what a shortened work schedule entails. Working fewer hours per week or compressing your typical work hours into a shorter period, such as four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days, are examples of this schedule.
Workweeks that are shorter are becoming more popular. Many employees’ perspectives on work have shifted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Burnout is becoming more common, and many people are opting to leave rather than return to the office and a regular work schedule.
Employees with compressed work schedules get an extra day off. For some employees, having that extra day could help them achieve a better work-life balance.
Employees that have a long commute may benefit from this type of work arrangement. Some employees may find the prospect of not having to drive or take public transportation an extra day of the week particularly appealing.
Some employees have duties in their personal lives that make working longer days challenging.
Furthermore, some people prefer to work in shorter spurts rather than for extended periods of time. A shortened schedule should be an option rather than a must.
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Types of Compressed Work Schedules
1. 4/10 Compressed Work Schedule
A 4/10 schedule is the most frequent compressed work arrangement, in which an employee works four 10-hour days (Monday through Thursday), with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.
2. 9/80 Compressed Work Schedule?
If four days on and three days off isn’t feasible for your company, investigate other compressed workweek options, the most popular of which is the 9/80 plan.
The employee works 9 hours a day (typically Monday through Thursday) and 8 hours a day on the last day of the first week in a 9/80 work plan (Friday).
Employees work 9 hours a day (Monday through Thursday) during the second week and are given an additional day off (Friday). This schedule equates to 80 hours of paid work spread out over two weeks, with two three-day weekends per month.
3. 4/8 Compressed Work Schedule
Employees on the 4/8 work schedule, often known as the four-day workweek, work four eight-hour days per week. That’s eight hours less than the typical 40-hour work week for most individuals.
This may appear to be a significant change in how we operate, but there is solid research to back it up. According to a Stanford University study from 2014, productivity drops after 50 hours of work. Other experts believe that 35 hours of labor is the ideal amount of time to work before productivity begins to deteriorate.
This strategy is so effective that many organizations that have implemented it have observed no decrease in productivity and continue to offer employees the same salaries and perks as before.
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Tips for Implementing a Compressed Schedule
Think about the law: There may be rules in your city or state that limit how many hours an employee can work in a given period of time. Before transitioning to a new schedule, be sure you’re in conformity with your state labor office.
Establish a set of core office hours: When a shortened workweek is implemented, some businesses experience workforce issues. Make sure to carefully schedule staff to ensure that the office is adequately covered.
Inquire about the preferences of your personnel: Your employees may be impacted significantly by a new arrangement. It’s possible that what works for one employee won’t work for another. Employees should be asked what works best for them.
As needed, make changes: Your policy regarding reduced work schedules should not be set in stone. You’ll probably see gaps that need to be filled as your staff and managers get into a routine. Request input from your employees on a regular basis and put their suggestions into action.
Pros And Cons of Compressed Work Schedule.
Pros
1. Time Off
Long weekends or additional days off throughout the week are available to the employee. The individual can finish their full-time schedule in less than the conventional five-day workweek thanks to the compressed timetable.
This can be accomplished by working 10- to 12-hour shifts. A company with enough employees to rotate days off can handle this schedule without causing any disruptions in production or operations.
A four-day workweek can be combined with a variety of shift plans to provide employees with a long weekend and additional time off.
2. Flexibility
Employees can be more flexible in their free time with a shortened work schedule. After devoting five days a week to work, the weekend is free to do errands and take care of household duties.
Employees may arrange some rest and relaxation in between tasks and errands thanks to the extra day. A weekday off also allows the employee to make doctor’s appointments on a weekday when they are not working.
3. Increased Production
Companies notice an improvement in production without adding another shift to their work schedule when employees’ work and relaxation schedules are correctly controlled.
4. No Pay or Benefit Reductions
Many organizations that have implemented a reduced workweek pay their employees the same as before, even though they work fewer hours.
5. Spending Less Time Commuting
This is especially true if working longer days means commuting outside of peak hours.
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6. Reduced CO2 Emissions
A shorter workweek is also helpful for the environment since it reduces CO2 emissions by reducing commuting and traffic congestion. “Countries with shorter work hours tend to have smaller ecological footprints, carbon footprints, and carbon dioxide emissions,” according to a 2012 study from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
7. Customers Will Benefit from Better Coverage And Service
Flexible schedules and shorter workweeks can result in more engaged personnel, longer customer service hours, and better coverage (if staff take different days off)
8. Having Fewer Sick Days
Employees have more time to focus on personal growth, spend time with friends and family, and work on their mental health with a shorter workweek.
This not only makes employees happier, but it also helps businesses save money by reducing sick days. According to recent research, a four-day workweek reduced absenteeism by 62 percent.
9. More Job Applicants
As a result of the COVID pandemic, workers are demanding more flexibility in their daily schedules. Companies can attract 15% more applications to their job posts by offering staff a four-day workweek instead of a five-day workweek.
You’ll be surprised at how many applications you can attract if you combine a four-day workweek with remote employment. Find out how to recruit and hire remote workers.
10. Improved Employee Retention
Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand-based company, conducted a two-month trial of the four-day workweek and discovered that employees maintained the same level of productivity despite working fewer hours, as well as improvements in job satisfaction, teamwork, work-life balance, and company loyalty.
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Cons
1. Coordination Is More Difficult.
If the entire firm does not switch to a compressed schedule, you’ll need to work with your team to make sure you’re not blocking them while you’re away. Similarly, if your job requires you to interact with customers.
2. Longer Days
The longer work days are one of the disadvantages of a compacted work schedule. Employees must become used to working an extra two to four hours per day during their work week.
Most employees are able to adjust to their new work schedules, however, some may find it difficult to work in their personal lives due to the longer days.
Working parents’ babysitting arrangements may make a 12-hour workday tough to handle. Some employees may be unable to work for prolonged periods of time due to medical issues.
3. Fatigue
Longer working hours create employee weariness and safety risks. Longer working hours, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, increase the risk of heart attack and disease. Both the employee and the employer are affected.
Employee weariness costs the employee’s health and the business money due to safety concerns and lost production. Work and rest schedules have been established in industries such as healthcare and transportation to prevent accidents and employee tiredness.
4. Not Suitable For Everyone.
Not every job can run on a tight schedule, and not everyone wants to work a short week. Because many knowledge workers have a daily productivity limit, increasing the workday from eight to ten hours may not enhance production.
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5. Burnout Is A Possibility.
Longer work days can be physically and mentally exhausting, resulting in burnout, decreased productivity, and decreased happiness.
6. Morale Might Be Tough To Maintain.
It might be difficult to maintain morale among exempt employees who work long days but don’t get the benefits of a shortened work week if you can’t offer a shorter week to all employees.
Conclusion
Although four-day work weeks give people an extra day off, the work day lengthens from eight to ten hours, resulting in weariness and shortened evenings for employees.
Many state governments were among the first to implement reduced work schedules in order to save money for the taxpayers. Employee benefits of a shortened schedule include more vacation days and shorter commuting times during the rush hour.
We hope you found this post as helpful as promised. Feel free to let us know what you think.
FAQs
Employees on a compressed work plan might work a complete 40-hour week in fewer days than on a five-day schedule. A reduced workweek can boost productivity while also allowing employees to spend more time with their families. Implementation differs from one organization to the next, and even from one department to the next.
Compressed hours can be advantageous for a variety of reasons, including improving work-life balance, which leads to increased happiness and engagement. Staff who are happy are more productive. Assisting in the management of prolonged office/service business hours
There are also studies that claim that corporations that impose daily working hours on their employees are less effective. Finally, scientists believe that the best days working period is roughly 6 hours, with the morning being more concentrated.
An employee with a shortened work schedule can complete a standard 35-40 hour workweek in less than five days. A full-time employee, for example, could work four 10-hour days rather than five 8-hour days.
A hybrid work schedule mixes on-premise and remote work methods to provide a unique (and more flexible) environment in which team members alternate time spent in the office with time spent working remotely.
Employees work three days in the office, two days remotely, and two days off on the 3-2-2 schedule, which balances traditional and remote work. Employees can construct timetables that fit into their daily life, which has been demonstrated to boost job satisfaction, productivity, and attendance.
Employers have several issues with flextime, such as less monitoring during certain hours of the day and understaffing at times. It can also make arranging meetings difficult, and tracking working hours (if you don’t have an advanced solution like All Hours) might be challenging.
In the United States, the 9-80 work schedule can improve an employee’s quality of work by 60% and productivity by 70%. Employers who allow employees to work on a flexible schedule notice fewer sick days and vacation requests. 2. It serves as a recruitment tool for the company.
Reference
- businessnewsdaily.com. – What Is a Compressed Work Schedule, and Should You Offer It?
- bizfluent.com – Compressed Work Schedule Pros & Cons
- himalayas.app – Compressed Workweek: Definition, Types, Pros, Cons, and Tips
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