Working times have changed dramatically as workplaces have modernized and firms have become more flexible.
Several working-class people have a conventional 40-hour workweek in which they work eight hours each day, five days per week.
On the other hand, the current epidemic has shaken everyone out of their stupor and made them understand that there are, in fact, other alternatives and methods of functioning.
Many firms now give their employees workweek schedule choices, like the 9/80 work plan. Most employees agree that the optimal work schedule allows them fantastic vacation time.
A 9/80 work plan divides the working days over a two-week period into eight 9-hour days and one 8-hour day.
A regular workweek would include working nine hours each Monday through Thursday the first week, with an eight-hour day on Friday.
The following week, you would work nine hours a day Monday to Thursday, giving you the full second Friday free because you worked eighty hours on Thursday. It doesn’t have to be precisely that way, but that is the most frequent 9/80 work schedule.
So are you for or against the three-day weekend? Before rushing to judgment, examine the following key benefits and downsides of the 9/80 work schedule!
Table of Contents
What is the 9/80 Work Schedule?
9/80 work schedule is the system where employees are allowed to work a 9-hour workday with a full off in the second week during the two weeks.
The employee will work for a total of 80 hours over the same period. They will work for a 9-hour day for eight days and an 8-hour weekday for a single day.
Sample of 9/80 work schedule
The sample of the 8/90 work schedule looks as,
| Week 1 |
|---|
| Monday: 9 hours |
| Tuesday: 9 hours |
| Wednesday: 9 hours |
| Thursday: 9 hours |
| Friday: 8 hours |
| Total: 44 hours |
| Week 2 |
|---|
| Monday: 9 hours |
| Tuesday: 9 hours |
| Wednesday: 9 hours |
| Thursday: 9 hours |
| Friday: Off |
| Total: 36 hours |
Why is the 9/80 work schedule gaining popularity?
The post-COVID pandemic world has reflected how work from home and other hybrid models effectively operate the business model.
Business owners have supported the extended weekend or holiday is suitable for product sales, services, and employee morale.
According to research, 54% of employees are ready to quit jobs if a flexible schedule is unavailable for a standard work schedule.
They believe that the schedule conflict shouldn’t affect their family time, social activities, personal matter, and taking kids to school.
A 3-day weekend is a much better option than the traditional 9-5 schedule for employee productivity and a positive outlook on the business.
Pros of the 9/80 Work Schedule
Now that you know the 9/80 work plan, the next part will disclose the different benefits of this fantastic schedule.
1. Increase worker productivity
The prospect of getting an extra day off energizes those with authority over their work commitments. This mood might motivate you to be more productive on the other days of the week.
When flexible scheduling was made available in the typical U.S. firm, the overall levels of productivity increased by 70%.
Their job quality improved by more than 60%, and three out of every four employees used less sick time or holidays to deal with stress.
2. Work-life balance
Every employee wishes to find time to spend with family, leisure, and other personal life obligations.
Workers have two days off each month under the 9/80 work schedule. They can spend those two days with their family, attend medical visits, meet friends or play with children, study at distant schools, participate in charity endeavors, take vacations, and conduct private affairs.
All of these factors contribute to a good work-life balance for the individual. As a result, employees will remain motivated throughout their involvement with the organization. They will also take no or few sick days and no or few time off ultimate.
3. More flexibility
Getting a weekday free allows you to do chores or duties that are simpler to complete during the week.
One example is scheduling visits with primary care providers or government agencies that are only open during the week.
This may also allow parents to participate in school-based events during the week. All in all, using a 9/80 work plan allows businesses to be more flexible.
4. Easier commuting
Employees with a 9/80 schedule do not have to ride to work two additional days each month. They will also drive shorter distances and spend less time caught in congestion.
Employees can change their timetables to dodge periods of excessive traffic. This alternate timetable has an environmental advantage to consider.
The extra two days off per month will result in a 10% reduction in gas use for your employees. It contributes to environmental preservation while also saving money.
5. Incentives for attracting good talent
Recruiting good talent has become a challenge in the modern, fast-paced environment.
Aspiring candidates are constantly looking for changes that provide the most lavish perks, such as regulations that allow for remote work and a flexible work schedule or flex day.
A 9/80 schedule makes your company more appealing to prospective workers since it provides a work-life balance tailored to their specific scenario.
New employees will no longer have to wait to be promoted to have greater control over their schedule.
6. Environment-friendly
In today’s fast-paced world, finding great employees has become difficult. Potential recruiters are constantly looking for changes that provide the most fantastic perks, such as regulations that allow for working remotely and flexible hours or flex days.
A 9/80 schedule makes your company more appealing to prospective workers since it provides a work-life balance tailored to their specific scenario.
New employees will no longer have to wait to be raised to have greater control over their timetable.
Cons of the 9/80 Work Schedule
As previously stated, the 9/80 work plan offers several advantages. However, the exact timetable has certain disadvantages.
Indeed, it may not be suitable for all employers, businesses, or sectors.
1. Doesn’t suit all business
Your clients or customers may be unavailable during the additional hour of uptime, reducing employee performance chances.
The 9/80 work schedule, mainly if your firm is client-based, may not be as productive if your clients are absent during certain hours.
It will influence the company’s competitive reputation, impacting earnings and managerial duties, especially in small enterprises.
On the other hand, this timetable works effectively when there are administrative chores to complete, basic labor, or other internal tasks.
2. Challenging to manage schedule and payroll
If your company must be open five days a week, you may need to segregate two groups of employees so that there is always someone on-site. For instance, one group may have Friday off while another takes Monday off.
It is good if your company is tiny, but handling all of this may be a headache as it expands. It necessitates long-term planning and adjusting the work schedule. You must modify your payroll system to accommodate the 9/80 timetable.
If your staff works within the 8-hour weekday or typical 9-5 schedule, you might not (hopefully!) have to pay overtime.
However, sick and paid leave and holidays must be treated differently based on whether they are taken on 8-hour shifts or 9-hour days.
3. Increased overtime pay
Overtime is the income received by the employee for working more hours than the average amount of hours in a workweek.
For instance, if a person works more than 40 hours in the first work week of the schedule, the person is typically entitled to 1.5 times their hourly wage as overtime compensation.
A few extra hours isn’t a big deal if it happens infrequently. However, if they are more regular and apply to many team members, the company must cover the daily overtime expenditure for the specified pay period.
The expense of the extra hour may affect your bottom line.
4. Create shorter evenings for workers
Even with the luxury of a day off, some workers find the extra hour each day challenging. They may believe there is no longer enough time to unwind at home in the evening.
Each employee has a shorter evening when the additional hour arrives at the end of the day.
This implies they will have less time to spend with their family during the week. It may also complicate family arrangements, such as picking up the kids from school, driving them to practice, or meeting other after-work activities.
Even if no children are present, the alternate timetable diverts time away from social pursuits or pastimes that might help decrease the impact of strain.
5. Issues with sick leave
If you implement a 9/80 work schedule, you may need to modify your sick leave provision. A day off from work due to sickness equals nine hours instead of the usual eight under this timetable.
Because nine hours and eight hours do not split evenly into the same numbers (except if you want to provide fractions of a workday or raise your sick leave to 72 hours), you will need to reorganize a little to make the new timetable work.
6. Health issues
Some employees may be unable to manage an extra hour of labor each day, four days a week. An additional hour of sitting or standing upright might cause health issues for some people.
For individuals who reside in colder climates, the thought that they will be arriving at work and leaving at night might cause mental health difficulties as well as physical illnesses. After all, we require some sun exposure every day!
You might be able to set up a space with workout equipment and a light source for employees to use during their lunch break.
Summary table for pros and cons of 9/80 work schedule
| Pros |
|---|
| Increase worker productivity |
| Work-life balance |
| More flexibility |
| Easier commuting |
| Incentives for attracting good talent |
| Environment-friendly |
| Cons |
|---|
| Doesn’t suit all business |
| Challenging to manage schedule and payroll |
| Increased overtime pay |
| Create shorter evenings for workers |
| Issues with sick leave |
| Health issues |
Modern organizations prioritizing workforce well-being and enabling additional freedom without sacrificing overall productivity are prepared to experiment with different work patterns such as the 9/80 work plan.
These strategies, unfortunately, are not appropriate for every organization; they must be selected by weighing the benefits and obstacles of their application.
As a result, we may infer that the benefits of a 9/80 work schedule outweigh the disadvantages.
When applied correctly, this can boost employee and organizational productivity. Furthermore, it can lead to a more positive work atmosphere and, in fact, a more lucrative work culture.
(Last Updated on August 22, 2022)
