The perfect employers perceive that they should change with the instances. 4 day workweeks are all the fad proper now—and for good motive. When you think about implementing one thing like a 4/10 schedule, you could know the entire info so you may make a selection that’s proper for your corporation and your workers.

On this article, we’re going to show you all concerning the 4/10 work schedule. Be taught what it’s, some key statistics so what’s occurring within the working world in relation to 4 day work weeks, the advantages and downsides, and the #1 issue to contemplate when making your determination. 

What’s a 4/10 work schedule?

A 4/10 work schedule—in any other case often known as a compressed schedule—is when workers work a full 40 hours per week however in 4 days as a substitute of 5 days. This implies they’ll work 10 hours a day for 4 days as a substitute of 8 hours a day for five days.

These compressed schedules aren’t only for 9-5 workplace areas. There are huge benefits—with some disadvantages—for eating places, retail areas, daycares, and different customer-facing companies. While you’ve bought shift staff or hourly workers, this schedule can look completely different for each enterprise sort relying on wants. 

Is the 4/10 schedule the identical because the 4-day work week?

In brief, sure! But additionally, no. The key distinction is that many implement a 4-day work week as 32 hours per week—versus the usual 40 hours—and pay stays the identical. Let’s dig into what the 4-day work week means and why it’s on the rise in lots of international locations. 

The Nice Resignation has thrown many employers for a loop, leaving them to search out new and authentic methods to retain their greatest workers—and methods to usher in superb prospects. In keeping with CNN, 80% of survey contributors who had just lately resigned from their jobs supported a 4/10 work schedule. Most likely much more fascinating? 32% would have stayed at their jobs had a 4-day workweek been supplied to them.

The working world is burnt out. Work-life steadiness is a prime precedence. A 4/10 schedule is likely one of the greatest methods to assist each the wants of a enterprise and the wants of its workers.

Necessary statistics concerning the 4-day workweek

A world pilot program ran for six months to review the advantages of a 4-day workweek. Within the U.S. program, 33 companies and 903 workers participated and offered knowledge to again up the advantages of the 4-day workweek pilot program. Every enterprise who participated had a 2-month onramp the place they might put together for the scheduling change earlier than the 6-month pilot program started.

Listed here are among the most vital knowledge factors from this complete research.

A compressed workweek made it simpler for companies to rent and retain workers

63% of companies had a better time attracting and retaining workers. Many candidates cited the 4-day workweek as an incentive to use—even over wage. And with retention being an costly drawback for many companies, having the ability to retain your present workers must be prime of thoughts. On common, there was a 12% improve within the variety of workers added to the enterprise. Did we point out this was throughout the Nice Resignation?

A 4-day workweek elevated income

The research actually dug in to get the income improve correct—as a result of income is vital to enterprise homeowners. How did they do it? By weighing the corporate sizes. Total, the income of the businesses rose by 8% over the course of the 6 month research. Even higher? There was a 37% improve once they in contrast the present 12 months’s income to the earlier 12 months’s income. 

A compressed schedule made workers happier and more healthy

Once they polled the workers on the finish of the research, 78% of workers reported that the 4-day workweek made them happier at work and fewer burdened. And the info is in. Happier workers are extra productive workers. Contributors reported that each fatigue ranges and sleep issues had been decreased by 9%. Additionally they reported that their exercise stage elevated as a result of that they had the time to be bodily energetic. That is an all spherical well being bonus!

A 4-day workweek is a giant draw for GenZ

GenZ would be the largest generational group within the workforce by 2025. If you wish to be forward of the curve as a enterprise proprietor or supervisor, you could have a technique to rent GenZ workers. 67% of Gen Z staff mentioned a 4-day workweek could be an vital think about figuring out who they’d work for. This is smart as they prioritize work-life steadiness.

A 4-day workweek is extra vital than the next wage

The workers who participated had been requested how a lot of a wage increase they would want with a view to entice them again to a 5-day workweek—and the numbers had been excessive. 42% of contributors mentioned that they would want a pay increase of 25-50% with a view to return to a 5-day workweek. One other 13% mentioned that the pay increase would should be greater than 50%. Let’s flip that for you. You probably have funds restrictions, a 4-day workweek could also be a bargaining level for you when your workers method you for a increase.

The advantages of a 4/10 schedule

Now that we’ve realized some statistics, let’s go a bit of broader and discuss concerning the total advantages of a compressed schedule particularly.

1. Happier and fewer burdened workers

We talked about this above, however it may well’t be understated. A 4/10 schedule elevated worker happiness total and reduce stress within the office. Many workers said that the flexibleness of working 4 days per week as a substitute of 5—whether or not these days landed on a Monday or a Saturday—gave them extra flexibility and extra work-life steadiness. Complete win/win.

2. Retention charges are greater for companies on account of flexibility and worker happiness

Flexibility is on the rise as one of many prime causes workers keep at their jobs, creeping up on wage. Folks worth autonomy. They will spend time with family and friends, and pursue their hobbies.

Iceland was a pioneer in instituting 4-day work weeks. They reported elevated well-being, decrease burnout charges, decrease absenteeism, and improved retention charges. Actually, extra folks had been making use of for roles.

3. Elevated productiveness regardless of fewer days at work

Firms who’ve examined out the 4-day work week—whether or not these days had been 10 hours lengthy or 8 hours lengthy—noticed elevated productiveness. Even with decreased hours, workers had been capable of be extra productive throughout working hours as a result of they had been well-rested and extra fulfilled of their lives exterior of labor. This confirmed higher focus when on the ground.

4. Decrease absenteeism on account of flexibility in scheduling

When your corporation is open 7 days per week or on an prolonged schedule, you’ll have workers who must take day without work for appointments or compensate for life duties like grocery procuring and laundry. With extra flexibility of their schedules, they’re much less prone to name in absent. Which means fewer shift swaps and understaffed shifts for you.

The disadvantages of a 4/10 schedule

Despite the fact that there are many advantages to a 4/10 work schedule, it isn’t all the time sunshine and roses. There are some distinct disadvantages that we’re going to discover.

1. Worker fatigue can impression productiveness

If you happen to’re planning to change from an 8-hour shift to a 10-hour shift, there could also be a transition interval on your workers. Two further hours a day might not look like loads, however it may well add up in case you aren’t used to it.

If you wish to stop this, be sure to schedule some further, shorter breaks on your workers to breathe some contemporary air and take a psychological break. Ensuring your workers have loads of water breaks and alternatives to snack may be notably useful in case you’ve bought a bodily strenuous job that’s customer-facing—like being a hairstylist or a daycare employee.

2. Clashing schedules with different every day life occasions

In case your workers are largely college students, a 4/10 shift schedule may be tough for them. College students have a tendency to choose jobs the place they will work round their faculty schedule, however with a 10-hour shift day, that leaves little room for a category.

Dad and mom are additionally one other demographic to contemplate if you wish to swap your corporation to a 4/10 schedule. Daycares have restricted care hours, so there could also be some scheduling they should navigate. Additionally they will not be eager on being away from their kiddos 10 hours a day—plus commute time—4 days per week.

3. An advanced scheduling puzzle

If you happen to’ve bought prolonged hours previous the normal 9-5 and also you’re open 7 days per week, scheduling workers in 10-hour shifts for 4 days per week can turn out to be a sophisticated scheduling puzzle you could remedy.

There are worker schedule restrictions, requested day without work, weekends, and shift swaps to contemplate when working with a brand new technique of scheduling. It could actually make your head spin.

4. Labor regulation compliance dangers

Each state has completely different labor legal guidelines to consider when scheduling workers. These labor legal guidelines turn out to be further difficult whenever you’re working exterior of a standard 9-5 schedule. If you happen to’ve bought hourly staff or shift staff, you’re most likely fairly up-to-speed on labor legal guidelines for size of shift and time beyond regulation. Simply be sure to take these under consideration when making the swap to a 4/10 shift schedule.

Homebase can even assist you with HR and compliance in case you’re feeling nervous about this new territory and need to be sure you’ve dotted all your ‘i’s and crossed all your ‘t’s.

How do you implement a 4/10 work schedule for the primary time?

So that you need to strive a 4/10 work schedule, however the place do you begin? We’ve bought you.

Step 1: Make the announcement. Coordinate with administration and all workers

Step one is to inform everyone about your determination. Actually drive dwelling the advantages for everybody concerned. If there’s pushback, be sure to hearken to the suggestions. A few of it could be legitimate and one thing you hadn’t thought of earlier than.

Guarantee that each division and each worker is aware of concerning the change and what date the change will happen. If you happen to run a restaurant, this determination can have an effect on administration, the cooks, servers, bartenders, cleaners, and hosts—notify all of them as quickly as doable.

While you’ve bought shift staff, it may be tough to get everyone collectively on the identical time to make a giant announcement. Homebase has a crew communication device that may inform everyone of this transformation and preserve a proper report of the date and time you notified your crew.

Step 2: Create a transparent coverage for any adjustments being made to the present expectations

Issues are going to alter. That’s when confusion and miscommunications can occur. Getting everyone on the identical web page is as straightforward as creating a transparent coverage for any adjustments to the way in which issues at present work.

This might embody:

• The way in which workers submit time-off requests
• Weekly availability submission deadlines
• notify you in the event that they’re calling in absent
• Who to talk to about schedule adjustments after it’s been posted
• request shift swaps
• Whether or not the schedule shall be set or rotating shifts

Step 3: Implement and tweak

There are sure to be bumps within the highway. In spite of everything, utterly altering the way in which a whole crew runs is not any straightforward feat. Implement your greatest ‘guess’ on the manner the schedule works shifting ahead, then don’t be afraid to tweak it.

Hold the traces of communication open along with your crew and permit them to return to you with suggestions. They’re those on the ground each day and have worthwhile perception into what’s working and what isn’t.

If there are new insurance policies to implement to make your corporation run extra easily after a trial interval of the 4/10 work schedule, you’re principally ranging from Step 1 once more. Make the announcement, let everybody on the crew know, add the brand new coverage, implement and tweak—if wanted.

You’re enjoying a little bit of an extended recreation, so enable a while for everyone to regulate and settle in.

Is a 4/10 schedule proper for your corporation?

The key query is, how have you learnt if a 4/10 schedule’s proper for your corporation? 

Our suggestion? Ask your workers. Carry them knowledge and see how they really feel about it. 

The advantages for you as an employer to implement a 4/10 shift schedule are all facet advantages to these of your workers. In the event that they’re happier, they’re extra productive and also you make extra income. In the event that they’re much less burdened and higher rested, they’re much less prone to burn out and go away for one more job with extra steadiness—saving you the price of hiring new workers.

In the event that they aren’t on board for a 4/10 schedule, there could also be no level in having this debate with your self. Each job and each crew’s completely different so there’s no ‘proper’ selection.

Supply your crew a method to provide suggestions on the concept in case you’re actually contemplating altering how scheduling works.

Make the swap to a 4/10 schedule simpler.

Use the Homebase scheduling device to make scheduling a breeze, With auto-scheduling capabilities, notifications when the schedule’s posted, time beyond regulation reminders, and a lot extra, making the swap may be straightforward. Enroll as we speak!

4/10 work schedule FAQS 

What’s a 4/10 work schedule?

A 4/10 work schedule is a shift schedule the place workers work 4 10 hour shifts in the middle of per week. This provides them three days off per week to relaxation and get better. It’s also called a compressed schedule as a result of a full 40 hour week’s compressed into 4 days. It’s much like a 4-day workweek, however the principle distinction is {that a} 4-day workweek often means a 32 hour week—4 8 hour shift days with three days off— and retains their pay the identical as a 40 hour week.

What’s a 9/80 schedule?

A 9/80 schedule is just like the extra sophisticated older brother of the 4/10 schedule. The explanation we didn’t convey this up within the article is as a result of it isn’t actually helpful to shift staff. Mainly, you unfold 80 hours over a 2-week interval so as to add as much as one extra break day each 2 weeks. The best method to put it’s, in the middle of ten working days you’re employed eight days for 9 hours, then one 8-hour day, and you then earn in the future off. Sophisticated: we all know. That’s why we tackled the 4/10 workweek to maintain issues easy.

What are the advantages of a compressed shift schedule?

Most of the direct advantages of a compressed schedule are for the workers. However the employers get superb advantages too! Workers are happier, which makes them extra productive and brings in additional income. Workers love the flexibleness, which suggests they’re more likely to remain and also you’ve bought much less turnover. Potential workers usually tend to apply on your roles as a result of a 4-day workweek’s an enormous bonus for work-life steadiness, which suggests you get the decide of the litter for candidates. It’s a win/win situation for everybody concerned. 

How do I do know if a 4/10 schedule will work for my enterprise?

The most important consideration for whether or not a 4/10 schedule will work for your corporation, is the demographic of your crew. This compressed schedule could be a huge drawback for fogeys who’ve particular instances to choose up their youngsters, or for college students who’ve labored their faculty schedules round working shifts. The perfect factor you are able to do is ask your crew how they really feel about the potential for altering to a 4/10 schedule.