What is Compressed Work Week?

When establishing a flexible work strategy, one option is to have a truncated work week. It enables people to work full-time (40 hours a week) over a shorter time.

A four-day work week, in which employees work full-time hours in four 10-hour days, is the most prevalent sort of compressed schedule.

The 5-4-9 work plan, based on a two-week working period, is another common variant of the compressed work week.

An employee works 9 hours daily but gets Friday off during the second week. An employee works nine days for 9 hours in two work weeks.

Employees can work longer hours on some days and have enough time to take an extra day off.

Purpose of the Compressed Work Week

The fundamental concept behind the reduced work week is to give employees an extra day off, but it may also be advantageous for businesses juggling heavy workloads.

The benefits and drawbacks of a Compressed Work Week

Benefits

  • An extra day off allows people to achieve a better work/life balance.

  • The employee retains their total wages and benefits.

  • Time and money saved on commuting.

  • Fewer interruptions and more productivity during non-standard office hours.

  • By overlapping schedules, total employee hours are increased during high peak workloads.

  • Workplace hours that are extended.

  • Managing an excessive amount of time.

Drawbacks

  • Some jobs may not be suited for more extended hours due to an increased risk of harm or mistake.

  • Less monitoring during certain times

  • Could result in understaffing at times.

  • May make meeting scheduling problematic.

  • Employees may be working unapproved overtime.

  • A lengthier timetable may result in less production at the end of the day.

Why do some employees favour compressed work weeks?

Employees with compressed work weeks have one extra day off. Having that extra day may help some employees achieve a better work-life balance.

Employees with a long commute may profit from this work arrangement. Some employees may find it incredibly enticing not to have to drive or utilise public transit on an extra day of the week.

Why do some workers oppose working on a compressed work week?

A compressed workweek may not be feasible for many employees. Some employees have family commitments that make working longer days challenging. Furthermore, some people enjoy working in short spurts rather than extended lengths.

In other words, employees should be able to choose whether or not to work on a tight schedule.