4 day weeks v 5 day ones - your experiences?

_Andy_

Hi guys

I'm just about to start a new job - I'm very fortunate in that I will be working from home and have been told I can work the hours (FT) whenever I choose.

As I will be gaining back the time I used to be travelling each day, I'm considering 'compressing' the time into a 4 day week, thus meaning the 5th day I can go visit people, do voluntary work, whatever.

Not done this before - wondering if any of you have experience of it and how you found it? Did it burn you out or was it good?

thanks

Little_Vics

I moved to a 4 day week late last year, and absolutely love it. My daily routine hasn't changed much at all on the days that I'm working (still get up at same time etc etc) and I have a whole day - a bonus day if you like - to do what I like. It means I've got some of my weekend back because I can do all the household stuff over a longer period of time.....it's brilliant and I don't think I'd ever go back to 5 days.

InsideInsurance

Havent done it personally but have known a few that have. The only negative for them was that others felt annoyed by it because the department was over stretched (and everyone was salaried so no overtime etc) and the majority of people at least worked the same hours as that person did on Mon-Thurs but also worked Friday for "the same pay" that she was only working for the 4 days for.

At the end of the day if you can do it then I imagine it would be great. Depending on what you do you may need to accept some flexibility over having to do at least some work on the Fridays and by doing that it'll probably go down better with colleagues too

Justicia

_Andy_ wrote: »

Not done this before - wondering if any of you have experience of it and how you found it? Did it burn you out or was it good?

After years of a 5DW, I changed to a 4DW late last year, so that I could spend more time doing what I want to do and achieve what I want to. In my case; more time to study Spanish and complete associated courses (OU, etc.).

I do prefer it; less rushing about over weekends, trying to squeeze time in before it's Monday again!!!!!

Hope that helps

esmy

I do 4 days (though not compressed full time hours, I do 30)and I work from an office base so not quite the same as you. It's good if it works but just some observations:

4 very easily creeps into 5. You need to have very clear boundaries with your employer eg do you answer calls/emails on your day off? Would you be expected to work the 5th day if particularly busy/job to finish? If so will you be paid OT/TOIL? Will you have defined working hours and work space at home that you can ignore on your non work days?

Colleagues can find any departure from a 5 day week difficult, in my case with the assumption that I get paid the same as they do and can take on the same amount of work - neither are true. Sometimes there's a bit of jealousy because they don't have the same work arrangement, only because they didn't ask. They can also feel that they are dropped in it if they have to cover you on your non working day. (I realise that this wouldn't apply in all jobs)

Plan your down time - if your plan is to watch Jeremy Kyle in your PJs, that's fine, it's your time. Don't feel you have to have some frenetic activity as you 'should' be working.

Positives for me are about less stress, better work/life balance, weekends reclaimed instead of being taken up with chores and being around for the family a bit more.

Good Luck!

Evilm

I've done this and personally hated it because I was the only one in my office that handles the tasks that were assigned to me.

So if something was wrong with Task X for Client A or someone needed something they'd kick up merry hell about me not being in on my day off as it was too important to be left. Or I'd come back in and something had been rushed by someone else on my day off and it had been done wrong.

There was also more chance I'd spend extra time to finish something one day because of the day off impacting deadlines and then only a few days later would be wondering where to find enough work to keep me going for my required hours that day!

Yes, the reduced travelling time and cost over the week and more 'free' time is nice. However It depends on the type of work and whether you are the only one doing it as to whether it causes more stress than its worth!

KiKi

If you can REALLY not work on one of the days, it's great.

IME, I ended up working the fifth day - or at least some of it. And yet I was working even longer hours in the other four days. So I ended up doing far more hours than on a normal 5 day week!

I do three days now, which I find much easier to manage than four, actually!