Workweek Flextime Brings Benefits

How many hours do you work in a week, too many, too few? How about four-day, 40-hour workweek? That’s right three days off every week. Sounds enticing?

Employers across the United States are trending toward greater value on “flextime” or a compressed workweek, where four 10-hour days replace the traditional regular workweek of five eight-hour days.

Utah, which became the first state to institute a 4-10 schedule in 2008 for most of its workers, recently asked employees whether they still liked the change. An overwhelming 82% endorsed keeping the schedule, Human Resources Executive Online reports.

“I don't think you could survey any American workplace and get 80-some percent of the employees to agree on the color of the sky," Michael Fischl, a University of Connecticut law professor who organized a four-day workweek symposium, told HRE Online reporter Harvey Meyer. "That overwhelming approval is just a sobering notion."

"From an HR perspective, (the 4-10 schedule) is a great opportunity," says Jeff Herring, Utah's executive director for human resources, adding that about 17,000 of the state's 23,000 employees are on it. "Usually, a benefit costs money, but this is actually saving money."

Rachel Kaufman, blogging for MediaJobsDaily, writes, “Companies love it because it saves money, energy, and the environment, not to mention reducing overtime costs. Employees love it because they have one less day of commute, they feel more productive, and can get errands like doctor appointments done on Friday.”

And yet a condensed schedule is by no means a panacea, Meyer reports. Not all employees embrace trading longer days for what is typically a three-day weekend. Some may become fatigued and less productive as a result of 10-hour workdays. Finding after-hours public transportation and extended day care can be tough challenges.

Condensed schedules also may prove to be a hard sell for some company leaders, according to Meyer. Paul Rupert, a Chevy Chase, Md.-based workplace consultant, says it's often the least-attractive option for companies – especially when exempt employees are considered.

Says Rupert, "I've had a number of executives tell me, 'Why would I give my exempt workers four 10-hour days when I'm getting five 10-hour days from them now?' "

Four-day workweeks have been the norm for decades in some professions, in particular for public employees in police and fire services. In the private sector, production-based newspaper employees have labored under compressed workweeks. Auto workers have enjoyed such schedules for years.

Even though We Mean Business uses a dual clock image to signify the traditional 9-5 business day, many people hold non-traditional jobs which require staffing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year because of the type of service or product.

Contrary to some assumptions, most employees who work 10-hour days do not become more fatigued – and thus, presumably less productive – during the day's final two hours, says Lori Wadsworth, a Brigham Young University professor who has been surveying Utah employees. That corresponds with tons of research she's reviewed in the nursing field, where nurses have long worked 12-hour days, she says.

"The research shows fatigue doesn't come into play until about 12 hours," says Wadsworth. "Anecdotally, we've heard comments from Utah employees that a 10-hour day is long and that they're exhausted," she adds. "But many also say they're really energized because they know they'll have a three-day weekend."

Given the number of unemployed and underemployed in the United States, it might be a good time for employers who were straddling the fence on a 4-10 schedule to reconsider this option. At very least, it’s worth a trial period.

Offering flexible schedules to employees could improve internal dynamics within companies, businesses or operations, public or private. Issues aside, it looks like a winner in terms of building loyalty and productivity.

A big side-benefit: It could open up job “gap” opportunities for those who got hammered by the Great Recession. Employers could grow their business while providing a boost to the overall economy. Imagine if employers took a broader view across the board?

As for me, I practice what I preach at writenowworks.com.