4/10-It would be nice if the federal government lead the way

[jm76]

My agency offers the 4/10 schedule along with the 5/4/9 and a flex schedule. I can't stand 10hr days and since we have a certain amount of work that needs to be done in our biweek the 4/10 schedule is not a good schedule if you really need to be productive the whole 80hrs you are working...

Interestingly enough on the flex schedule you can actually work up to 12hrs a day if you are approved for it by your supervisor...

[saganista]

The point seems to be emerging at last that the federal government has indeed been at or near the forefront in promoting and offering alternative work schedules in situations where those are appropriate. Not all workers or work situations are well-suited to it, but such options have been available where a federal worker and supervisor feel it makes sense since the 1990's, and non-standard 8-hour workdays from well before that. Telework has also been advanced as improving technology has made that a more and more efficient and effective option. My office has several who are on full-time telework and reside nowhere near DC. Boston, New Yotk, Pittsburgh, and Nashville come to mind as examples. These people come in for a few days of meetings and discussions, then it's back to the other end of the internet for them. With phone, e-mail, IM, and web conferencing, nobody misses a beat over it. Maternal and other extended periods of medical leave are being handled in the same way.

[kevinm]

Originally Posted by cdmurphy

My former agency supported 4-10 schedules unless, say, you were like me and were the only person doing your kind of work. Most of my department did the compressed schedule that oneasterisk described. We just had to balance it over the two-week pay period so that 1/4 had the first Monday off, 1/4 had the first Friday, 1/4 had the second Monday, 1/4 had the second Friday. I still did get called on my day off to handle some web "emergencies", but I was able to work from home or go in to a nearby field facility if necessary.

That is the problem with have "key person" dependencies. No job should be done by just one person. Everyone should have a backup, else shut down the business one day a week.

[phrekyos]

Originally Posted by jm76

My agency offers the 4/10 schedule along with the 5/4/9 and a flex schedule. I can't stand 10hr days and since we have a certain amount of work that needs to be done in our biweek the 4/10 schedule is not a good schedule if you really need to be productive the whole 80hrs you are working...

Interestingly enough on the flex schedule you can actually work up to 12hrs a day if you are approved for it by your supervisor...

I think we work at the same place. I have actually worked one of those 12 hour days when I was in a crunch.

I just felt like flopping onto the bed and going to sleep right after I got home.

[jillabean]

Originally Posted by HereinVA

For those who have worked 4/10 (or know someone who does), do you have kids? I was just curious if the longer day made it more difficult to get kids to things like sports practice, club meetings, etc. that often occur in the early evening.

I was wondering the same thing. I can barely pick up my daughter and bring her to events as it is. As much as I would love to work a 10-hour day and get an extra day off a week, unless the schools change hours and such, I just can't see it being feasible for a working parent. It would be a nice option to offer people who don't have to worry about kids though (and would still benefit the rest of us with lighter traffic, etc).

[Joke Insurance]

I know that Utah has been doing this since 2008/2009:

The Four-Day Workweek Is Winning Fans - TIME

[JfromReston]

The Environmental Protection Agency offers 4-10 work schedule, but I only know a few people that do it. Most people do a CWS with one day off every two weeks.

[scottfs]

I prefer a normal 8 hour day because I'm going to need to be available when my outside contacts are around. I'm going to work a 5 day week because customers and suppliers do too. Also it's a real pain managing to that schedule when you have people in California where any hours in excess of 8/day for hourly employees are considered overtime regardless and must be paid at time and a half.

[marska]

Originally Posted by phrekyos

I think we work at the same place. I have actually worked one of those 12 hour days when I was in a crunch.

I just felt like flopping onto the bed and going to sleep right after I got home.

Yep. And think about this...one of the toughest jobs, as an RN working in a hospital, is ALL 12 HOUR SHIFTS now. Talk about beat! (and I wonder about the the patients...how is the quality of care after, say, 10 hours...) ?