Compressed Work Weeks

Description

Compressed work week programs are like flextime but different in that an entire day is removed from an employee’s schedule. The hours from the lost day are compressed into other longer workdays in the week (e.g., employees work four 10-hour days or 80 hours over nine days). A 4/40 or 9/80 work plan shifts commute times from the typical rush hour.

Benefits for employees and employers include:

• Workers get a longer weekend.
• Organizations reduce operating costs by closing (or operating with minimum staff) on the off day.

These benefits have proven especially valuable to government agencies that want to save money without laying off employees.

The compressed work week program can be for individual workers or an entire organization. How it is implemented depends on business management and individual workers.

Target Market

Local, State, and Federal Government Agencies
Government agencies employ a large number of people that typically work a shift and are often in heavily developed areas. Workers can commute earlier or later to reduce their contribution to congestion. Most agency offices have the potential to operate only four days a week or at least with minimum staff one day per week.

Business in All Sectors and Industries, Particularly in Office Positions
Office workers generally have more flexibility in their work start and end times. Businesses without a direct customer support function may benefit from closing the office or running at minimal operation if their workers have a compressed work schedule. Manufacturing and industrial businesses that rely heavily on shift work may implement compressed work weeks more easily than other commute options, such as telecommuting.

How Will This Help?

• Reduces traffic during peak times by shifting commuters to less congested times and eliminating a full day of commuting each week. Having fewer drivers on the road during peak hours reduces roadway congestion.

• Increases productivity, reduces operating costs, and allows an extended weekend. An extra day off reduces business costs because less electricity and other overhead items are used.

Issues

These programs are easy to create but may not work well for some employers. Organizations must decide whether it is feasible to have a four-day work week or have a significant portion of their staff absent. Strong marketing should educate and encourage the right type of organizations to take advantage of this method.

Cost

The cost of compressed work weeks is minimal. A majority of the cost involves the work required to implement the plan and reschedule the workers. Any additional costs are mainly due to operational changes in the business. Compressed work week plans typically cost between $50,000 and $75,000, but they also tend to save money on business operations.

Who Is Responsible?

Business management and individual workers should work together to create a compressed work week schedule. Management should consider what schedules will benefit the workers. Workers should ensure that new schedules accomplish personal or family, customer service, and organizational goals. City and state officials should highlight the benefits of compressed work weeks to business management and workers to convince everyone that it is worth the effort to reschedule the work hours and close an extra day.

Project Time Frame

The time frame for implementing compressed work weeks is relatively short compared to more complex methods. The technique depends on the amount of time it takes to reschedule workers and implement the plan. The main factors affecting startup involve the time it takes to plan the program and gain employee acceptance, typically between three and six months.

The data needed to evaluate the benefits and costs of compressed work weeks include:

• The number of workers willing to participate.
• The average commuter distance.
• The number of weekdays with altered hours.

If only a small percentage of people are willing to shift their schedules, management should evaluate the need for the program and the effects of only certain workers being involved.