9/80 Work Schedule

What is a 9/80 Work Schedule?

While the four-day workweek is stealing the spotlight in the corporates, a lesser-known alternative to the traditional five-day schedule is quietly gaining traction: the 9/80 workweek.

A 9/80 work schedule is a flexible arrangement in which employees work 80 hours over nine days over a two-week period.

A9/80 work schedule looks a bit like this:

• Week 1: Employees work nine hours daily from Monday to Thursday and eight hours on Friday.
• Week 2: Employees work nine hours daily from Monday to Thursday and have Friday off.

The 9/80 schedule is often called a “compressed” schedule. This is because employees work the same number of hours on fewer days.

It is designed to give employees a better work-life balance while keeping them working an average of 40 hours per week. This results in a four-day workweek every other week, providing employees with a three-day weekend twice a month.

How does 9/80 schedule work

 

A 9/80 work schedule is designed to give employees more flexibility and longer weekends.

So, to sum up in simpler words here is a weekly breakdown,

1st Week  Monday to Thursday: Work 9 hours each day.  Friday: Work 8 hours (this completes the first 40-hour workweek).

2nd Week  Monday to Thursday: Work 9 hours each day.  Friday: Off (this completes the second 40-hour workweek).

Let’s understand this better with a table;

Week 1

Day	Work Hours
Monday	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (9 hours)
Tuesday	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (9 hours)
Wednesday	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (9 hours)
Thursday	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (9 hours)
Friday	8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (8 hours)

So, in week 1, an individual works 9 hours from Monday to Thursday and 8 hours on Friday, completing a total of 40 hours.

Week 2

Day	Work Hours
Monday	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (9 hours)
Tuesday	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (9 hours)
Wednesday	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (9 hours)
Thursday	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (9 hours)
Friday	Off

Considering week 2, if an individual worked 9 hours from Monday to Thursday, then ideally, they could have Friday off, completing another 40-hour workweek.

Thus, you can work 80 hours over two weeks, with one Friday off every other week. This provides a longer weekend every other week, which enhances the quality of work-life balance.

What Are the Benefits of a 9/80 Work Schedule?

The 9/80 work schedule is a win-win deal for both employers and employees. As well as providing employees with better work-life balance and reducing stress, the 9/80 schedule also helps employers increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, and attract top talent.

However, let’s dive into the significant benefits it has to offer to both parties.

For employees:

Helps maintain a healthy work-life balance

An extra day off every two weeks allows employees to recharge and rejuvenate by improving overall well-being. This time can be spent with family, pursuing hobbies, or simply relaxing.

1. Improves morale and boosts productivity

Longer workdays mean more uninterrupted time to focus on tasks. This approach to work lead to higher productivity. Employees often feel more motivated and engaged when they have a longer weekend to look forward to.

2. Reduces commuting problems and delays to work

Fewer commuting days mean less time spent in traffic. Employees often face unexpected delays due to traffic and cab surges. This may lead to them missing an important meeting or, worst case, LOP. For employees, less travel may translate into saved time, commuting costs and and reduced stress.

Note: Workplace activities contribute to environmental impacts through carbon emissions, transportation pollution, office waste, energy consumption, and power generation. As the world focuses more on sustainability, a 4-day workweek could effectively reduce these impacts and help combat climate change.

3. Lowers the risk of absenteeism

In the US, absenteeism skyrocketed from 3.2% in 2021 to over 6% in 2022. With 9/80, employees can schedule personal appointments without taking time off during regular workdays. This flexibility helps reduce unscheduled absences. (This is beneficial for both employer and employee)

For employers:

1. Increases employee happiness index

When measuring well-being, it is also essential to discover and quantify the extent to which an employee is happy. When employees feel their personal time is valued, their overall job satisfaction increases. Happy employees are likely to stay longer in the organization, helping maintain organizations a balanced attrition rate.

2. Attracting of Top Talent

According to a 2024 Gallup poll, 48% of U.S. employees say now is a good time to find a quality job. Thus, offering a 9/80 schedule can make your company more appealing to top talent. Flexible work schedules help attract a better talent pool and retain them.

3. Cost Savings for Businesses

Operating on fewer days can lead to savings on overhead costs such as utilities and office supplies. This can be a financial benefit for companies looking to reduce expenses.

Even though the 9/80 work schedule offers multiple benefits, it also presents many challenges.

Like, employees may face exhaustion, scheduling conflicts, and increased stress, while employers must navigate operational challenges, legal concerns etc.

What Are the Potential Challenges of a 9/80 Work Schedule?

To analyze the potential challenges of a 9/80 Work Schedule, let’s look into it from both employee and employer perspectives.

For Employees

For Employers

Working longer days can lead to fatigue, especially if employees are unused to extended hours. This can affect their overall productivity and well-being.   The shift from a traditional 8-hour- to 9-hour day can create conflicts with personal schedules, such as childcare and school routines, which typically follow a standard 8-hour workday.  Compressing the workweek can increase pressure to complete tasks within fewer days, potentially causing stress and burnout, especially if workloads remain unchanged.   Not all employees may have the opportunity to switch to a 9/80 schedule, leading to resentment and inequality among staff.   Longer workdays mean less evening time for personal activities, family time, and relaxation, which can negatively impact work-life balance.

Employers may find it challenging to maintain productivity with fewer working days, as targets and metrics still need to be met within a compressed timeframe.   Businesses operating seven days a week may need help accommodating extra days off, especially when coordinating with suppliers and customers.  Hiring additional staff or paying overtime to cover the reduced workdays can increase operational costs, which might need to be offset by raising customer prices.   In some regions, working more than eight hours a day may require overtime pay, complicating payroll and increasing labor costs.   Ensuring consistent customer support and service levels can be difficult with fewer working days, potentially impacting customer satisfaction and business reputation.

How to Implement a 9/80 Work Schedule in Your Organization?

Implementing a 9/80 work schedule involves several vital steps to ensure a smooth transition.

Here are the steps to execute this work schedule:

1. Evaluate the alignment of the 9/80 schedule with business operations and employee roles.
2. Discuss with stakeholders to gain support and address concerns.
3. Develop and document policies on work hours, breaks, and overtime rules.
4. Collect employee feedback to make necessary adjustments before implementation.
5. Train managers and supervisors in managing the new schedule and resolving issues.
6. Implement the 9/80 schedule and monitor its impact on productivity and satisfaction.
7. Establish a new workweek that begins at the start of a pay period.
8. Maintain consistent reporting for payroll, including overtime and leave.
9. Adjust for holidays and leave to ensure correct hours are recorded.
10. Review and adjust the schedule periodically based on feedback and performance metrics.

9/80 work vs. 4/10 schedule workweek

Aspect	9/80 Work Schedule	4/10 Workweek
Work Hours	9 hours/day for 8 days, 8 hours on 1 day	10 hours/day for 4 days
Total Hours	80 hours over 9 days (2 weeks)	40 hours per week
Days Off	Every other Friday off	Every Friday off
Work-Life Balance	Better balance with an extra day off bi-weekly	Consistent 3-day weekends
Employee Fatigue	Moderate, with longer days but more frequent breaks	Higher, due to longer daily hours
Scheduling Flexibility	High, with more options for personal appointments	Moderate, with consistent long weekends
Operational Impact	Requires adjustment for bi-weekly cycles	Easier to manage with consistent weekly cycles
Productivity	Potentially higher with more focused workdays	Can be high but may suffer due to longer hours
Commuting	Reduced commuting days	Reduced commuting days
Implementation Complexity	Moderate, with need for clear policies and communication	Lower, with straightforward implementation

To sum up, the 9/80 work schedule offers a better work-life balance with an extra day off every two weeks. This schedule reduces employee fatigue and provides more flexibility for personal appointments. Compared to the 4/10 workweek, it can enhance productivity and overall job satisfaction.