4/10 Work Schedule

What is a 4/10 work schedule?

A 4/10 work schedule involves working four 10-hour days each week, followed by a three-day weekend. As opposed to the traditional five-day, eight-hour workweek, the 4/10 schedule means working fewer days, offering employees more flexibility and downtime.

This schedule means workers can enjoy longer weekends for rest, family time, or personal activities. At the same time, employers can benefit from sustained productivity during longer shifts and can even see their operational costs go down.

How Does the 4/10 Work Schedule Work?

A 4/10 schedule compresses a standard 40-hour workweek into four 10-hour days, giving employees an extra day off while still maintaining full-time status. The best part about it is its flexibility; that is, it allows businesses to adjust the start day as per their needs.

Overtime applies if an employee works beyond the 10-hour shift or on scheduled rest days, usually at 1.5x or 2x the regular pay rate. The exact payout depends on whether the extra hours are voluntary or required by the employer, with specific agreements covering things like meal breaks.

While shifting to a 4/10 model requires advance notice, it doesn’t lock in set daily or weekly hours. Instead, it’s about balancing longer workdays with more downtime—offering a fresh and modern alternative to the traditional 9-to-5.

What is an example of a 4/10 Work Schedule? .

A 4/10 schedule is a setup that gives the best of both worlds—full-time hours with an extended weekend built right in. Let’s see how a 4/10 work schedule could look like in reality

• Monday: 8 AM – 6 PM
• Tuesday: 8 AM – 6 PM
• Wednesday: 8 AM – 6 PM
• Thursday: 8 AM – 6 PM
• Friday: Off
• Saturday: Off
• Sunday: Off

That extra day of rest directly translates to more time for personal projects, long weekends, or simply catching up on rest—all without sacrificing paychecks.

So why are more and more companies embracing this schedule nowadays?

What Are the Benefits of a 4/10 Work Schedule?

1. You Can Have More Productivity

A 4/10 schedule directly impacts productivity in the right direction. Employees can focus more during extended working hours, with fewer distractions. Businesses across industries report improved revenue, output, and performance due to this setup.

2. Employee Satisfaction and Health Soar

Studies have found that 78% of employees experience increased happiness and reduced stress after transitioning to a four-day workweek. This schedule gives employees time to recharge, which gives them more time to invest in self-care and personal well-being — creating a healthier work environment overall.

3. Better Work-Life Balance For All

An extra day off each week allows employees to better manage personal responsibilities, hobbies, and family life. The 4/10 schedule aligns perfectly with this need and provides workers with flexibility, which eventually leads to a greater sense of fulfillment.

4. You Can’t Ignore Cost Savings

Employers save on operating costs such as electricity and heating due to reduced office days, while employees benefit from savings on commuting expenses. This shared financial benefit makes the 4/10 workweek a cost-efficient solution for businesses and their staff — both alike.

5. You Can Attract Better Talent and Improve Retention

A 4/10 schedule makes companies quite appealing to top talent. The flexibility directly translates to lower turnover rates and higher employee loyalty.

6. You Reduce Environmental Impact

A 4-day workweek could reduce carbon emissions by up to 20%, primarily by decreasing commuting-related pollution. The setup amazingly supports sustainability and also delivers practical benefits, making it lucrative not just for people but also good for the planet.

7. You Offer More Family Benefits

An extra day to manage family commitments, whether it’s school drop-offs, appointments, or quality time with loved ones, is a welcome gift for parents and caregivers. While longer workdays can be an ick, almost everyone cherishes the flexibility that comes with it.

What Are the Challenges of a 4/10 Work Schedule?

Challenges & Concerns

While the 4/10 work schedule sounds dreamy and problem-free, it’s not without its challenges. According to a report, 41% of manufacturing employees, 38% of those in human resources, and 37% of workers in the travel sector believe that a four-day workweek is unrealistic for their fields.

Let’s break down a few key hurdles this schedule might bring:

1. Higher Chances Of Exhaustion and Burnout

Longer shifts can and do put a lot of pressure on employees to complete their tasks in a shorter window. Without careful adjustments to workload and expectations, it can become tough to stay focused through the hours and maintain the same energy the whole day.

2. Can Lead To Poor Work-Life Balance

Extended work hours can disrupt personal routines, particularly for parents. Mothers, especially, may struggle to juggle work with childcare and familial responsibilities.

3. Productivity

As per a report, at least 40% of employees expressed concerns that their workload will become challenging to manage with a 4-day workweek. They cited fewer breaks and limited chances for collaboration as some of the reasons.

Obviously, longer work hours mean employees might find themselves disengaged or feeling like their work quality is slipping naturally, which could offset the benefits of an extra day off.

4. Scheduling Conflicts May Arise

Client-facing roles face another challenge. Since fewer workdays mean tighter schedules, it can be tricky to meet client needs, resulting in potential delays or gaps in service.

5. Gender Inequality and Increased Costs Are Other Concerns

Transitioning to more extended workdays can disproportionately impact women, especially working mothers. These extended hours often mean more strain on personal time, widening the gender gap in pay and hours worked.

Plus, the added stress of longer shifts can lead to higher childcare costs, which could deter female employees from embracing the setup furthermore.

How to implement a 4/10 work schedule

Below, we list a strategic and step-by-step process to implement a 4/10 work schedule that offers employees maximum benefits.

1. Communicate Clearly

Before you do anything, make sure your employees know what is changing, why it is happening, and how it will benefit both parties. Explain this very clearly and be open about how this new schedule will help with work-life balance and productivity across the board.

2. Create a Clear Policy

A written policy on the 4/10 work schedule eliminates confusion to a lot of extent. You can outline the work hours, expectations, and any adjustments for consistency. You can also raise potential challenges upfront so everyone is on the same page.

3. Involve Your Team

The best way to get employee buy-in is to make them part of the process. Gather feedback, discuss concerns, and adjust wherever necessary. Employees who feel heard are far more likely to embrace the change.

4. Stay Flexible

A 4/10 schedule works best when there’s room for flexibility. Consider staggered start times or rotating days off to prevent burnout and ensure complete coverage. Minor adjustments can make a big difference in morale.

5. Monitor and Adjust

Implementing the schedule is just the first step. Keep employees informed, monitor their productivity, and tweak things as needed. If problems come up, don’t let them become major hurdles.

6. Encourage Breaks and Time Management

Longer workdays require better time management. Encourage breaks, provide resources for time management, and make sure you give employees the support and resources they stay productive without burning out.

But what if a 4/10 schedule doesn’t quite fit your team’s needs? There are plenty of alternative work schedules that offer flexibility without sacrificing business goals. Let’s take a look at a few.

What are alternatives to the 4/10 work schedule?

9/80 Schedule

In a 9/80 schedule, you work nine-hour days for eight days, then an eight-hour day—so you get every other Friday off. It’s a nice perk, giving you a long weekend twice a month. The downside? Some employees are off while others are still working, which can create scheduling headaches.

2-2-3 Schedule (Panama Schedule)

In this setup, employees work 12-hour shifts in a rotating schedule: two days on, two days off, then three days on. While it offers longer rest periods, it can be tiring in the long run. The rotating pattern also makes it tough to plan personal time or stick to a regular routine.

3/12 Schedule

With a 3/12 schedule, employees work three 12-hour shifts a week, then get four days off in a row. It’s a big plus for work-life balance, but those long shifts can be draining—staying focused and productive for 12 hours straight isn’t easy.

Rotating Shifts

Rotating shifts have employees switching between morning, afternoon, and night shifts to keep things covered 24/7. While it spreads the workload evenly, it can seriously mess with sleep patterns and make it nearly impossible to maintain a steady routine—taking a toll on well-being over time.

Finding the right work schedule depends on the needs of both employees and businesses. While these alternatives offer more flexibility than the traditional 9-to-5, they also require careful planning to avoid burnout and scheduling conflicts.

What is the difference between the 4/10 work schedule and 9/80?

The 4/10 schedule and the 9/80 schedule allow employees to take extra time off, but both do it through different means.

With a 4/10 schedule, you work four 10-hour days every week. So, there is a three-day weekend every week. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? There’s just that long workday, which could be draining.

The 9/80 schedule operates in a cycle of two weeks. Nine-hour days are worked for nine days, and then you have every other Friday off. On the bright side, there are shorter workdays compared to 4/10 and a long weekend twice a month.

Furthermore, since the office stays open five days a week, businesses do not have the service gaps that are inherent in a 4/10 schedule.
Ultimately, it all depends on which matters more for you: longer weekends more frequently or a smoother work-life balance with shorter working hours.