Comments on: Working Four Days a Week http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:00:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Basil Vandegriend http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1296 Basil Vandegriend Wed, 25 Oct 2006 04:10:53 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1296 I'm glad to hear that others have had success with the four day work week, using a variety of hours worked and/or pay cuts to make it work. Thanks for the comments! I’m glad to hear that others have had success with the four day work week, using a variety of hours worked and/or pay cuts to make it work. Thanks for the comments!

]]> By: Ralph Miner http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1251 Ralph Miner Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:29:58 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1251 In an old job I used to work 4 ten hour days and then take Friday off from work. I found that household chores that I normally would just take care of along when I was working eight hour days needed to be done during the long weekend. Overall I found working 4 days a week to be better. You could catch a movie matinee without the crowds. I found myself doing more cultural things (going to Zoos and Museums) which while less crowded tended to have more school children on field trips. While it was harder to socialize during the week - I found that I had time to have lunch with friends on Friday that I otherwise had scheduling issues with. Overall I found it great, but it isn't for everybody. Some people find the ten hour days to long to maintain productivity. In an old job I used to work 4 ten hour days and then take Friday off from work. I found that household chores that I normally would just take care of along when I was working eight hour days needed to be done during the long weekend. Overall I found working 4 days a week to be better. You could catch a movie matinee without the crowds. I found myself doing more cultural things (going to Zoos and Museums) which while less crowded tended to have more school children on field trips. While it was harder to socialize during the week - I found that I had time to have lunch with friends on Friday that I otherwise had scheduling issues with. Overall I found it great, but it isn’t for everybody. Some people find the ten hour days to long to maintain productivity.

]]> By: Francois S. http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1247 Francois S. Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:41:16 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1247 I have been doing it the last year. Took a 10% drop in pay and work for nine hours instead of eight in the four working days. This means I get to spend a whole day together with my son and daughter every week, and that's more that worth it! I have been doing it the last year. Took a 10% drop in pay and work for nine hours instead of eight in the four working days. This means I get to spend a whole day together with my son and daughter every week, and that’s more that worth it!

]]> By: Arjan Zuidhof http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1212 Arjan Zuidhof Sun, 22 Oct 2006 08:23:36 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1212 Great to see I'm not the only one.. I'm having a 4-day schedule for more than 3 years now, for the same reasons as you years, -except that N=2 :-) - and I must say it works out wonderful. At first I had to get used to it a bit, not being at work etc. But the returns (seeing your children more, 'loading the battery') are great. I even think II'm more productive now on the days I do work: because there's less time you want to get done more. My day off used to be Wednesday, which I liked, it was a sort of time-out in the middle of the week. Now it's Thursdays, for logistical reasons (my wife works too..). But boy, are you lucky to be able to some up with a working schedule like that! I've never seen a company with such flexible working hours as you describe. Most companies I know really don't like things as working 4*9 hours, or even working from home (thinking you will only spend time with the children, or playing games or whatever) Great to see I’m not the only one..
I’m having a 4-day schedule for more than 3 years now, for the same reasons as you years, -except that N=2 :-) - and I must say it works out wonderful. At first I had to get used to it a bit, not being at work etc. But the returns (seeing your children more, ‘loading the battery’) are great. I even think II’m more productive now on the days I do work: because there’s less time you want to get done more. My day off used to be Wednesday, which I liked, it was a sort of time-out in the middle of the week. Now it’s Thursdays, for logistical reasons (my wife works too..).
But boy, are you lucky to be able to some up with a working schedule like that! I’ve never seen a company with such flexible working hours as you describe. Most companies I know really don’t like things as working 4*9 hours, or even working from home (thinking you will only spend time with the children, or playing games or whatever)

]]> By: Basil Vandegriend http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1172 Basil Vandegriend Sat, 21 Oct 2006 01:47:41 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1172 Wow - thanks for all the great comments! Andrew: Keeping an eye on the phone/email on the day off makes it much less of a day off. I wouldn't like it, and I don't think you'd realize the destressing benefits of that extra day off. It may work for others. Gavin: Yes, the extra day off is great for working on something on the side (paid or unpaid), if your employer allows you to, and if you are disciplined enough. Tom S.: My company compensates everyone for extra time worked. As my employer is a consulting company, we track our time carefully to bill the client. So I'm not getting a better deal than my coworkers. Wow - thanks for all the great comments!

Andrew: Keeping an eye on the phone/email on the day off makes it much less of a day off. I wouldn’t like it, and I don’t think you’d realize the destressing benefits of that extra day off. It may work for others.

Gavin: Yes, the extra day off is great for working on something on the side (paid or unpaid), if your employer allows you to, and if you are disciplined enough.

Tom S.: My company compensates everyone for extra time worked. As my employer is a consulting company, we track our time carefully to bill the client. So I’m not getting a better deal than my coworkers.

]]> By: tom s. http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1171 tom s. Sat, 21 Oct 2006 00:43:19 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1171 While I have also managed the four-day thing, I have had to take a 20% cut to do it. The reason, which I have actually enforced as a manager and so can hardly disagree with, is basically that at a software company hours are hard to track, and many people put in additional hours anyway. So I am surprised that you managed to get the "five days in four" agreement. Congratulations. Is there a response from co-workers who say "well I put in two hours yesterday evening, just like you did, so I won't come in tomorrow morning"? While I have also managed the four-day thing, I have had to take a 20% cut to do it. The reason, which I have actually enforced as a manager and so can hardly disagree with, is basically that at a software company hours are hard to track, and many people put in additional hours anyway. So I am surprised that you managed to get the “five days in four” agreement. Congratulations.

Is there a response from co-workers who say “well I put in two hours yesterday evening, just like you did, so I won’t come in tomorrow morning”?

]]> By: Dan http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1160 Dan Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:38:58 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1160 I did this at the end of last year. I had 10 days of unused paid holiday (vacation) to use up before the end of the year and I decided to take off every Friday for the 10 weeks before Christmas. It was brilliant as I just used it to look at new technology and try new things that I didn't have time with in my normal job. I looked forward to Friday every week. However I was pretty depressed for a while when the 10 weeks were up! I did this at the end of last year. I had 10 days of unused paid holiday (vacation) to use up before the end of the year and I decided to take off every Friday for the 10 weeks before Christmas. It was brilliant as I just used it to look at new technology and try new things that I didn’t have time with in my normal job. I looked forward to Friday every week. However I was pretty depressed for a while when the 10 weeks were up!

]]> By: Blanka http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1158 Blanka Fri, 20 Oct 2006 14:18:13 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1158 This is interesting. I started similar thing but only a couple of weeks ago. I work now Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 18:00 ('working days') and on Fridays from 09:00 to 13:00 ('company visit day'). I would completely skip the Friday but I have to appear at work because that it a common agreement in the company. I have excellent results and mostly because of the following reasons: - My working days are made of two parts: from 09:00 to 15:00 I answer email, communicate, discuss, have meetings etc. (It's amazing how time is wasted, btw.) From 15:00 I'm finally starting to work on tasks that require concentration. Before 15:00 it's impossible to start anything but from 15:00 it goes very well. At the end, I make To Do list for the next day. - It's a shame to leave work at 16:00 and break my concentration. At that time, I have actually just begun to work. I mean - real work. - On Fridays it usual to work shorter in my company and that is way I have shortened that day even more. I just answer my emails; ask others if they need anything. After that, I'm leaving. I suggested the same thing to other people in the company, and we agreed to ask our managing director to allow free Fridays for the whole company (it's not big so it would be easy and the sum of hours stays the same as before). We'll see what happens. In the meantime I will continue with the practice described above because I'm much more productive. This is interesting. I started similar thing but only a couple of weeks ago. I work now Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 18:00 (’working days’) and on Fridays from 09:00 to 13:00 (’company visit day’). I would completely skip the Friday but I have to appear at work because that it a common agreement in the company.

I have excellent results and mostly because of the following reasons:
- My working days are made of two parts: from 09:00 to 15:00 I answer email, communicate, discuss, have meetings etc. (It’s amazing how time is wasted, btw.) From 15:00 I’m finally starting to work on tasks that require concentration. Before 15:00 it’s impossible to start anything but from 15:00 it goes very well. At the end, I make To Do list for the next day.
- It’s a shame to leave work at 16:00 and break my concentration. At that time, I have actually just begun to work. I mean - real work.
- On Fridays it usual to work shorter in my company and that is way I have shortened that day even more. I just answer my emails; ask others if they need anything. After that, I’m leaving.

I suggested the same thing to other people in the company, and we agreed to ask our managing director to allow free Fridays for the whole company (it’s not big so it would be easy and the sum of hours stays the same as before). We’ll see what happens. In the meantime I will continue with the practice described above because I’m much more productive.

]]> By: Gavin http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1150 Gavin Fri, 20 Oct 2006 07:31:07 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1150 A month ago I took a 4 day week instead of a raise. It is quite refreshing not having to go into the office on that day! I'm using it to work on freelance gigs (I'm trying to build that up slowly). I chose a Wednesday, primarily because I didn't want my colleagues to think of me as having a long weekend and partly because I didn't want to think I was having a long weekend! (i.e. not get work done). A month ago I took a 4 day week instead of a raise. It is quite refreshing not having to go into the office on that day! I’m using it to work on freelance gigs (I’m trying to build that up slowly). I chose a Wednesday, primarily because I didn’t want my colleagues to think of me as having a long weekend and partly because I didn’t want to think I was having a long weekend! (i.e. not get work done).

]]> By: Andrew Flusche http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1134 Andrew Flusche Thu, 19 Oct 2006 15:58:47 +0000 http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2006/working-four-days-a-week#comment-1134 I love your post here. My father was a County Commissioner a few years back. His road crew worked four day weeks during the summer when there was enough light. They would come in early and stay a little late, enabling them to have three day weekends. I wonder how a schedule like you described could be used in a career like law. Clients typically demand immediate (or at least same-day) response. Perhaps you could work four day weeks, but still have an eye on email and the phone on Fridays. What do you think? I love your post here. My father was a County Commissioner a few years back. His road crew worked four day weeks during the summer when there was enough light. They would come in early and stay a little late, enabling them to have three day weekends.

I wonder how a schedule like you described could be used in a career like law. Clients typically demand immediate (or at least same-day) response. Perhaps you could work four day weeks, but still have an eye on email and the phone on Fridays. What do you think?

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