Evolving workplaces require innovative solutions to ensure high employee productivity and satisfaction. Since the pandemic, workers have been more adamant about work-life balance, and in doing so, they demand better scheduling. One approach that businesses can take is to offer a 9/80 work schedule.
The 9/80 work schedule is a compressed work schedule where employees work 80 hours over nine days in two weeks instead of the traditional 10-day. This kind of shift arrangement allows employees to enjoy a four-day workweek every other week. The 9/80 work schedule can be particularly impactful for industries with blue-collar workers. It allows for extended periods of continuous work, which can benefit manufacturing, construction, and other sectors where project continuity is crucial.
At the same time, workers get extended time off every other week, which benefits them. According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, 43% of organizations offer a compressed workweek, highlighting the growing acceptance of alternative schedules like the 9/80 workweek.
Table of Contents
What is the 9/80 shift schedule?
The 9/80 work schedule is also called the 9/80 work schedule or 9 80 work week. It is an alternative work arrangement that compresses 80 hours of work into nine days over a two-week period. This work arrangement is beneficial for employers and employees. Employers get to keep the extended operation hours, which keeps productivity high. On the other hand, employees get to work their full hours while enjoying an additional day off every other week.
The 9/80 work schedule meaning can be tricky to understand without a breakdown. Simply put, in this type of shift schedule, employees typically work eight 9-hour days and one 8-hour day over the course of two weeks. This is how they can work 80 hours in nide days, hence the name “9/80” or “9×80”. Compared to a traditional 40-hour workweek, the only distinguishing factor here is that the 9 9 80 work schedule keeps the same 40 hours of work but redistributes them to create an additional day off.
Here’s how the 9/80 schedule shift works:
- Week 1: Four 9-hour days (Monday to Thursday) and one 8-hour day (Friday)
- Week 2: Four 9-hour days (Monday to Thursday) and one day off (Friday)
Comparison with the traditional 40-hour work week
Compared to the traditional 40-hour work week, the 9 /80 flex work schedule makes it possible to offer employees a three-day weekend every other week. There is no reduction in their total work hours. This can lead to improved work-life balance and potentially increased productivity. For example, in a traditional workweek, an employee might work from 9 AM to 5 PM five days a week. In a 9/80 flex schedule, they might work from 8 AM to 6 PM for eight days, 8 AM to 5 PM on one day, and have one day off completely.
Example of an 9/80 shift schedule
While there are several ways to redistribute work hours in such a schedule, to better understand how a 9 80 work schedule example might look in practice, let’s consider this scenario.
Blue collar workers in a manufacturing unit can have 9 80 work week, which looks like this:
First Work Week
Day | Hours Worked | Start Time | End Time | Break |
Monday | 9 | 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1 hour |
Tuesday | 9 | 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1 hour |
Wednesday | 9 | 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1 hour |
Thursday | 9 | 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1 hour |
Friday | 8 | 8:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 1 hour |
Total hours worked: 44
Second Work Week
Day | Hours Worked | Start Time | End Time | Break |
Monday | 9 | 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1 hour |
Tuesday | 9 | 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1 hour |
Wednesday | 9 | 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1 hour |
Thursday | 9 | 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1 hour |
Friday | 0 | Off | Off | N/A |
Total hours worked: 36
In our 9/80 work schedule example, employees work 44 hours in the first week and 36 hours in the second week, totaling 80 hours with a full day off in the second week.
Advantages of the 9/80 Work Schedule
An additional day of time off is one of many advantages of adopting this work schedule. The benefits extend beyond extra time off.
Enhanced Work-Life Balance
Blue-collar workers usually are involved in laborious tasks. After a tiring day at work, no energy is left for personal time. The 9 80 flex schedule provides employees an additional day off every other week. This allows extended weekends to spend more individual time with family and friends. While it is a minor change, it can significantly improve work-life balance. It leads to happier and more satisfied employees.
Boosted Productivity
Several industries benefit from the increased productivity of adopting a 9/80 work schedule. Industry studies suggest that employees working on compressed schedules often report higher levels of job satisfaction and lower levels of stress.
Employer Benefits
For employers, compressed work weeks have multi-faceted benefits. Here are some:
- Reduced overhead costs: With offices closed for an additional day every other week, companies can save on utilities and other operational costs. For companies that employ large numbers of blue-collar workers, this can reduce overhead costs significantly.
- Extended operating hours: The 9/80 workweek schedule can allow businesses to extend their operating hours without incurring overtime costs. As overtime pay is usually 1.5 times the regular wages, this saves a lot in labor costs.
- Improved recruitment and retention: Offering flexible schedules can be a powerful tool for attracting and retaining top talent. As workers are seeking better work-life balance, they appreciate extra time off without losing pay.
Reduced Commuting Time
When there is an extra day off every two weeks, it is one less commute every two weeks. Employees save time commuting and reduce their carbon footprint. This can be particularly beneficial in areas with heavy traffic or long commute times.
Increased Employee Satisfaction
The alternative work schedule 9 80 often leads to higher job satisfaction. A survey by FlexJobs found that 80% of workers agree that they will be more dedicated and loyal to their employers if they have flexible work options.
Flexible Scheduling Options
The 9 80 flex work schedule allows for greater flexibility in scheduling. It helps companies manage shift schedules and improve employee satisfaction by evenly distributing their shifts.
Improved Morale and Engagement
Well-rested workers are physically and mentally more active. It naturally improves their morale and engagement. By offering flexible schedules like the 9 80 shift, companies can create a more profound connection with their employees as they know their employers care about their wellbeing.
Challenges of Adopting a 9x80 Work Schedule
The benefits of a 9×80 work schedule are tempting, but its successful implementation requires overcoming the associated challenges. Here are some of the common challenges faced by employers:
Adaptation Period
As employees have to work extended hours initially, transitioning to a 9 80 compressed work schedule will require an adjustment period. It can be challenging for some employees to adapt to extended workdays initially.
Scheduling Issues
Extra day time off and extended work hours can result in difficulty coordinating meetings and collaborative work. As different team members have other days off, scheduling issues can arise.
Impact on Team Coordination
Another challenge with team members potentially off on different days is coordination and communication. Managers may need extra effort and planning to ensure team coordination.
Risk of Burnout
Some roles in the manufacturing and construction industries are physically demanding. In such sectors, the extended workdays in a 9 80 work schedule can lead to fatigue and burnout if not appropriately managed.
Potential Coverage Gaps
For industries that require 24/7 shift coverage, adopting a 9 80 flex schedule can cause potential coverage gaps. It may require hiring more workers to cover shifts.
Employee Resistance
Not all employees may prefer the 9 80 alternative work schedule and can resist the change from the traditional 5-day workweek.
Issues with Overtime
If the employees working a 9 80 work schedule shift are allowed overtime, then overtime calculation can be challenging. Particularly in industries that are subject to strict labor regulations, extra planning is required.
Difficulty in keeping accurate time tracking record
Accurate time tracking becomes crucial with a 9 80 work schedule. Organizations need robust and flexible time and attendance systems to ensure accurate timekeeping.
Managing Workload Consistency
Balancing the workload over periods of differing work hours is also challenging. Ensuring a consistent workload across the longer and shorter weeks will require setting up uncommon task modifications and resource redistribution.
Is a 9/80 work schedule right for your business? How to implement it?
Whether a 9/80 work schedule is right for your business depends on whether your business can face the above mentioned challenges. Also, to what extent do the benefits of flexible and compressed work schedules impact your revenue, employee satisfaction, and overall work environment? You will decide if you should introduce such a work schedule.
If you have decided to have an alternative 80-hour workweek schedule, here are the steps to effectively implement it.
Effective Communication
Communication is the key. Ensure clear communication with workers, explaining everything about the new work schedule. Tell them the 9 80 work schedule meaning and its implications on their work routine. Effective communication includes explaining the benefits, addressing concerns, and providing clear guidelines for the new schedule.
Pilot/Trial Program
Keep such a change out of the box company-wide. Start with a pilot program to test the impact of job schedule 9 80 on workers. A pilot program deployment will help you identify potential issues before full implementation so you can make adjustments and refinements necessary before the company-wide rollout.
Utilizing Technology
The 9 80 flex schedule differs from a shift that manual methods can manage. It would help if you leveraged technology solutions for scheduling, time tracking, and communication to manage it effectively. Software solutions like Truein can make advanced time-tracking and scheduling smooth.
Comprehensive Training
Provide thorough training to managers and employees on how the 9 80 work schedule works. Take help from institutional trainers to help workers and managers understand time management, maintain work-life balance, and communicate effectively in the new schedule.
Flexibility and Adjustment
It would help if you could adjust the schedule based on feedback and observed outcomes. Flexibility is crucial in making the 9 80 work schedule successful. If your employees request a change or improvement, be prompt to consider it.
Regular Feedback Collection
Being proactive will help eliminate conflicts and dissatisfaction in the workforce. Regularly collect feedback from employees and managers through surveys, focus groups, or one-on-one meetings. It will help identify and address issues with the 80-hour workweek schedule.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Like any other implementation in the workplace, continuously monitor productivity, employee satisfaction, and other vital metrics. It will provide a clear picture of the success of the 9 80 work week schedule. Data-driven decisions are necessary.
Managing Workload Distribution
Ensure that work is distributed evenly across the nine working days irrespective of work hours to prevent overload on certain days. This may require adjusting project timelines, deadlines, and team workflows.
How does Truein help with Employee shift scheduling?
We understand how alternative work schedules like the 9/80 work schedule can benefit businesses across industries. Therefore, Truein, our signature cloud-based time and attendance system, is flexible and robust and accommodates every requirement of such work schedules.
Offering assisted work scheduling features, Truein allows easy setup and management of various work schedules based on data such as workers’ availability, skill sets, resources, etc. Its face recognition and GPS geofencing enabled time and attendance tracking, ensuring the precise recording of work hours and eliminating time theft. Powerful algorithms easily calculate 9 80 work schedules over time and share the data with HR and Payroll systems.
Truein mobile app allows employees to clock in/out and view their schedules through a user-friendly mobile app. It is ideal for managing a 9/80 flex schedule, particularly in distributed workforce arrangements. Furthermore, the detailed reports and analytics help managers monitor the effectiveness of the 9 80 work schedule.
“Get centralized and foolproof Time & Attendance for your organization”
Book a Free Demo Now
Conclusion
Alternative shifts like the 9×80 work schedule offer a unique approach to allow workers to have a work-life balance while maintaining productivity. Given its benefits of enhanced work-life balance, potential productivity boosts, and increased employee satisfaction, it is an attractive option for many organizations.
However, 9/80 work week implementation is challenging. From scheduling complexities to potential burnout, there are several factors to consider. Successful implementation demands careful planning, clear communication, and a willingness to adapt based on feedback and results. Organizations considering this alternative work schedule should consider the pros and cons and start with a pilot program.
By leveraging tools like Truein, companies can easily navigate the challenges and potentially reap the benefits of such a flexible work schedule.
