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I went from a five day workweek to a four day workweek and I LOVED it (normal working 9-5, not 10 hours a day). I pretty much did the same amount of work. I found when I worked five days I just filled a lot of the time, on the four day workweek I was much more efficient. I did take a pay cut and miss out on some paid holidays but it was awesome having a three-day weekend every week. I have since started to WFH for the equivalent of 2 days a week and I swear I have less time available. That is mostly due to not having childcare when my child is not in part time preschool though.
I also wonder if people would be happier if there was more flexibility outside of the normal 8-5 and staggered start/leave times. It is so stupid for most of the corporate world to start at the same time, that means we are all on the road at the same time and nothing stressed me out more than my commute. I sometimes go into my old office for meetings and leaving an hour later than I used to means my commute time is cut in half (and I couldn't leave early enough to make a difference due to our daycare's opening hours).
though i went through some tough times finally getting here, i now have a fixed 4day work week with 9-10hrs mon-tue/thu-fri. wednesday i have either off or do telework at home but i can also use vacation time on fridays.
initally had a 3day weekend (fri-sun) schedule but that cause employment drama with co-worker envy. so after some adjustments, i figured out that wednesdays off offered a great work schedule: two days of work, followed by 1-2days off, then two days work cycle began again. wednesdays also allows me to be more productive mid-week with personal matters at home where as fridays off just ended up kicking off the weekend celebration at lunch time.
am i more productive at work? depends how you define productivity but i'm definitely more effective. am i happier? you bet but that was the quid pro quo of taking a position i was over qualified for but my employer wanted someone with my level of expertise and offered a commensurate salary, benefits and flexible work schedule.
initally had a 3day weekend (fri-sun) schedule but that cause employment drama with co-worker envy.
Oh yeah, I had this too. I was one of only two employees who had the four day a week schedule and we both just so happened to start it after having a baby. I got a few snide remarks like, "I guess if I want a part time schedule I have to have a baby" to which I replied, "Nope, just take a 20% paycut". That shut down a lot of the comments. I didn't ask for a part time schedule because I was having a baby, my department just happened to be looking to add someone part time when I was pregnant and they were having a hard time finding someone because everyone wanted full time hours. So I asked for the part time hours and they were able to find someone quickly for the full time hours. But I guess people see what they want to see.
A 10 hour workday, though? I barely have enough work to last for 8 hours a day. Not to mention being bored out of my mind. No thanks. 8 hours a day is long enough.
I'm the opposite. I could work 80 hrs per week and still be behind. I will take vacation days so that I can get caught up on work - no other way to get "thought required" work done in an open plan office with meetings 5-6 hrs a day.
Not sure how they count salaried employees in this data set. Officially my company would report me as working 1700 hrs per year (37.5 hrs per week, 6 weeks vacation), but the only time I ever work less than 37.5 hrs per week is when I'm on vacation at the beach and only taking a couple meetings per day plus email at night.
I've worked a variety of schedules over the years including the 5-day+4-day+1 day off (what they called the 5/4/9), 8-5 Monday-Friday, and evenings or nights with 2 weekdays off.
What I like best are 8-hour evenings with weekdays off. Obviously not every schedule is ideal for every household, but that one has worked great here.
Love getting things done on weekdays or going to places when they are less crowded; also prefer 8-hour days to 10. That 3-day weekend is nice with a 10-hour shift, but I prefer a shorter work-evening with mornings off.
And it's great to miss that morning/afternoon commute!
Fabulous idea; had several jobs with a four day week in Calgary, AB.
It meant a planned three day weekend every week, which means you can GET SOMEWHERE and enjoy it, and still have enough time to get back home and rest, OR
I had a third job when times were really busy, and pulled in some extra cash. It was just great.
I got just as much done with a four day week as a five.
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