9/80 Work Schedule: Pros and Cons

If you’re curious about the 9/80 work schedule, you’re in the right place!

The typical 8-hour work schedule for 5 days a week works for many workplaces. Recently the 9/80 work schedule has come into fashion.

The idea is that you consider the work period over a two-week schedule instead. So the normal work schedule would be 10/80. That is 10 x 80 hour days.

9/80 suggests that you work 80 hours over 9 days over a two-week period. To make this work, there would be 9 hours of work from Monday-Thursday. Friday would be a normal 8 hour day or a day off on the second week.

This means that there will be an extra day off every second week. Hello 3-day weekends! Or at the very least, a four-day workweek.

It is legal under US labor laws to work this way. As a business owner, you may be considering offering alternative work schedules to employees. Could it be right for your small business? Let’s find out.

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

Pros of the 9/80 Work Schedule

Cons of the 9/80 Work Schedule

Key Takeaways

Pros of the 9/80 Work Schedule

1. Workers Have a Better Work-Life Balance
   
   Having a three-day weekend twice a month can do wonders for work-life balance. Employees have more time with their families. They are able to rest thoroughly. Or alternatively, employees may choose to have an midweek extra day off. This flexible schedule breaks up their work routine for social activities. Prospective workers are attracted to the idea of a four-day workweek twice a month.
   
   
2. There Is Better Work Coverage With Alternate Schedules
   
   If your business relies on shift work, it can be helpful to have flexible work schedules. You can decide where you need that extra hour of coverage every day. Then your employees can decide which hours they want to cover. This could lead to longer customer service hours which is overall best for the smooth running of your shift-based business.
   

3. There Could Be a Boost in Productivity
   
   Two additional workdays off per month increase rest. Increased rest equals increased productivity in the workplace. Likewise, there is extra motivation to work well if there’s the promise of an extra day off at the end of the longer work stretch. Studies have shown that 9/80 work schedules lead to more high levels of productivity among workers.
   
   
4. Better Commuting Times
   
   As employees are commuting earlier or later than the average person, traffic eases slightly. This leads to shorter commutes and less traffic on the roads. The benefits of shorter commutes are both mental and monetary. Commuting has a direct effect on mental health.

Cons of the 9/80 Work Schedule

1. This Won’t Work for Every Employee
   
   The longer workdays involved can be tricky for some employees. The extra hour in the morning could make it difficult to get kids to school. An extra hour in the evening could mean shorter social hours at night. Personal commitments definitely come into play. Energy levels are also something to think about. Not all employees suit working early or late. So that extra hour in the office wouldn’t actually be that productive.
   
   
2. This Won’t Work for Every Workplace
   
   It very much depends on your industry and business needs. You might have a service-based business that works well with flexible work schedules. But for some more customer-facing businesses, extra morning or night hours aren’t particularly helpful. It may be best that your employees work during normal business hours.
   

3. Longer Work Days Can Decrease Productivity
   
   An extra day off brings an extra day of rest. But could this be negated by having longer workdays? If this eats into valuable recreation time or sleep, productivity will likely decrease. Many employees struggle to work productively over long work hours. A 9-hour workday may be too much.
   
   
4. There Could Still Be Staffing Gaps
   
   The flexible work schedule method of covering shift times only works if you have enough employees. A small employee pool can only cover so many days off with their alternative schedules. The extended weekend characteristic of the 9/80 work schedule could create a huge staffing gap on Fridays and Mondays.

Key Takeaways

The 9/80 work schedule is a huge draw from employees and employers alike. Everyone wants the ability to personalize their work schedule to a degree. We hope this article gives a balanced view of what you can expect should you decide it’s right for you.

For more work schedule advice, check out our resource hub.

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