9/80 Work Schedule: Definition, Pros and Cons

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When Henry Ford popularized the conventional 40-hour workweek, it was an incredible enchancment for employees of the time. Working 8-hour shifts, 5 days every week, ensured he might function his firm across the clock with out inflicting employees to tire out a lot.

Through WWII, different firms had been fast to undertake this schedule. Most employees labored in manufacturing on the time and this schedule was good for productiveness and introduced on much less adversity from employees.

That, nevertheless, was over 100 years in the past.

Today’s workplaces have diversified in function and fewer persons are required in jobs that should adhere to this conventional schedule. When Covid pressured employees and enterprise house owners to provide you with options to work schedules, it turned clear that the world can perform wonderful with out having everybody fill their seat at work from 9-5, 5 days every week.

Not solely are folks on the lookout for extra versatility of their work schedule right now, however they’re additionally demanding it.

One various that’s gaining reputation is the 9/80 work schedule.

In this text, we’ll outline the 9/80 work schedule, then present a step-by-step plan on easy methods to implement it and assessment the professionals/cons that will help you determine if it is value making an attempt in your group.

Let’s get to it.

What is the 9/80 Work Schedule?

Working the 9/80 work schedule will see you working 80 hours over a two-week interval. These hours will likely be divided up into 4 days of 9 hours and one in all eight hours on the primary week. The second week will consist of 4, nine-hour days. You will then get the fifth time off.

Working this schedule, an worker will find yourself with a three-day weekend twice a month. There can be one month yearly when most staff will see a month the place they get three, three-day weekends.

In complete, employees obtain 26 three-day weekends a 12 months with out having to surrender their pay, holidays, advantages or different perks they now take pleasure in as full-time staff. 

It is less complicated to image this idea with an instance schedule.

What Does the 9/80 Schedule Look Like?

Week One (44 hours)

Monday – Thursday 8-12 then 1-6 (9 hours every day)
Friday – 8-12 then 1-5 (8 hours)
Saturday/Sunday Off

Week Two (36 hours)

Monday -Thursday 8-12 then 1-6
Friday, Saturday, Sunday off

*This pattern is predicated on having a one-hour unpaid lunch break.

You will discover that you’d be working greater than 40 hours the primary week, however solely 36 within the second. This is without doubt one of the causes a two-week pay interval is best suited for this schedule. We will focus on the payroll features of this in a bit. For now, let’s check out the professionals and cons of this work schedule.

Pros of the 9/80 Work Schedule

1. It can result in larger productiveness.

Employees who’ve management over their schedules have been proven to enhance 70 p.c and the standard of their work has improved sixty p.c. People who’ve a three-day weekend in sight have one thing optimistic to work towards. In addition, the additional hour every day permits many tasks to be accomplished that don’t have to be carried over into the following day. Many folks discover it simple so as to add an additional hour to their day if it interprets into an additional time off in the long run. As they really feel extra productive, they grow to be extra productive.

2. It might assist recruit higher-quality job candidates.

Having a versatile schedule will seem to attraction to many job candidates.

Having a 9/80 work schedule in place might draw higher-qualified employees and will show you how to get an edge over the competitors.

Having a extra fashionable scheduling system additionally reveals you as an organization that’s extra prepared to develop with the occasions. This is one other issue that appeals to these looking for a profession that they’ll develop with.

3. Flexible sufficient so all time durations are lined.

The pattern schedule reveals having each different Friday off, however this schedule is versatile sufficient that half the staff might take Monday off as an alternative and nonetheless get that three-day weekend.

You may additionally have staff preferring that further time off in the midst of the week, which additional makes overlaying hours simpler.

Another plus is that the schedule might be tailored to begin an hour earlier every day. You can add that further hour to when you find yourself obtainable to prospects. If half the workers does the early morning, you find yourself with two further hours a day in an effort to meet the shopper’s wants.

4. Reduces high-traffic driving.

Whether staff are coming in an hour early or leaving an hour late, they’re extra more likely to keep away from the traditional rush hour visitors. This results in much less stress and fewer stops through the commute. When staff do not arrive at work already burdened, they’ve the possibility to deal with their duties simpler proper from the beginning of the day.

5. It provides employees extra time for crucial life actions.

With the standard 9-5 schedule, staff usually have problem scheduling common physician appointments, organising conferences with colleges, and doing different enterprise chores that require being obtainable throughout the identical hours they’re working. With an alternate schedule, the worker can schedule these items for his or her time off.

They can even do issues like purchasing that at the moment are being executed on the weekends at a time when children are at school. This permits them extra household time on the weekends. All of this may profit the employer, who would not should cope with as many individuals calling off to fulfill these kind of obligations.

Cons of the 9/80 Work Schedule

1. It would not work with each enterprise.

Businesses which might be primarily based on particular person contributions by employees can flourish with one of these work schedule. In environments the place everyone seems to be inter-dependent upon one another, nevertheless, have to be totally staffed always, and having half the employees off in the future will hinder productiveness. Business consultants, artists, software program builders, video editors, and different occupations like these are good to go. Retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and building might all endure from occasions of brief staffing. 

2. It might create workers shortages in circumstances of sickness.

Regardless of the kind of schedule you implement, staff are going to get sick or have household emergencies. When this occurs on a day when lots of the employees are already off, a difficulty may result. This sort of schedule helps eradicate many call-offs for private days, however folks cannot management sickness and different emergencies. You will want to ensure a backup plan is in place simply in case.

3. It might create well being points.

Some employees might not be capable to deal with an additional hour a day 4 days every week. Sitting or standing an additional hour can create bodily issues for some. For employees who dwell in colder areas, the truth that they are going to be coming to work and heading house at all times in the dead of night can create psychological well being points in addition to bodily ones as we’d like some solar publicity every day. You might be able to create a room with some train tools and a daylight lamp for workers to take pleasure in throughout their lunch hour.

4. Less household time every day or interference with household schedules.

During occasions when a employee is working lengthy days, they could discover that they’ve to depart earlier, so this may create extra stress as mornings are rushed.

This might require them to create a brand new routine. They may additionally discover themselves coming house, consuming dinner, and then going to mattress. This can cut back household time at night time.

For others, childcare points might come up. For many, the three-day weekends that enable for longer day journeys might assist cut back the shortage of household actions within the night. For these with kids, there could also be an issue. This is particularly true for single mother and father.

5. Payroll points might come up.

It is crucial that any firm pondering of implementing this schedule examine with an employment lawyer to seek out out what the legal guidelines are within the state you’re working in. While the two-week format will help eradicate additional time points, this may occasionally not at all times be the case. In addition, holidays, holidays, and different unplanned break day will have to be addressed.

Do they happen on an 8-hour day or a 9-hour day? Pay will rely upon this. The pay interval may even have to be adjusted in order that the primary Friday of the interval has the pay week ending at midday and the second week starting at midday. Once the payroll is labored out, it is going to be essential to have somebody who can cope with inconsistencies properly in cost.

How to Implement a 9/80 Work Schedule

If you suppose this work schedule sounds fascinating, listed below are the primary steps to soak up placing it in place.

1. Evaluate your organization’s wants concerning protection.

If you want a full workers always, you might want to stay to a standard schedule. This can be true if the distributors and shoppers you cope with are working these hours. You have to ensure you can be found when your small business might be energetic with the world.

2. Talk with staff for his or her enter.

Maybe your staff will leap at this opportunity however that is not at all times a assure. You might want to discuss with staff and clarify what you’re hoping to perform with this modification. You must clarify that they may have to be cautious with regard to not inflicting additional time points or calling off usually, placing different employees at an obstacle. If crucial, you would have solely among the staff observe the brand new schedule at first. Over time, others might determine to get on board.

3. Do a trial run.

Before placing the plan into everlasting motion, attempt doing a trial run for a number of pay durations. This approach, you may work out any points and readjust as crucial.

Final Thoughts on the 9/80 Work Schedule

Much has modified throughout the office panorama these final two years. People are taking extra time to cease and scent the roses, and working from house performed an enormous half in that.

While many staff are being requested or invited to return to their places of work, that feeling of what issues most just isn’t forgotten and will have an effect on their choices.  As extra and extra persons are looking for methods to make their house lives extra significant, and not focus solely on working, we’re apt to see this work schedule and many others which might be related grow to be the norm.

If you’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine issues out, you’re not alone. Check out our article on how one can develop a greater work-life steadiness right now.