4 Day Week?

[Stringent]

I was thinking, if we went down to a 4 day week, but did longer hours, how would you guys take that. So instead of working 9-5, you work say 7-5 Mon-Thurs and have Friday off, or any other combination.

Plus it would make the planet greener as most one day travel is cut.

I would do the 4 day week.

[tiggerai]

Same here.

2 day weekends just aren't long enough and would quite happily work longer hours.

(but not 7-5... omg getting up at 5am would kill me.) I used to work 9-6 in one job anyway wouldn't bother me a bit.

[TheAnimus]

it would also be a more optimal use of time, it would save me 1.5 hours a week from not commuting.

However, brilliant as i am, i doubt my mind could work an extra 2 hours a day, without melting, or more likely been less productive.

[scruffy]

Once you got used to the extra couple of hours in the day, you'd be fine. Chances are once you get home from staring at a computer screen all day, you stare at a computer screen for a few hours more anyway.

I'd be all about it, 3 day weekend FTW.

[Parm]

Stringent, you sir are a genius! This proposed course of action surely has the ingredients for world peace.

Well, maybe I'm getting a bit too excited there. But I do whole heartedly agree. I think the whole world just works too much. There's nothing wrong with work but once you've got your other chores done on the weekend, you've no time left to yourself. Finishing work at 5pm on a weekday doesn't leave you much time on an evening either.

Monday - Thursday should be working days. Rather than do extra hours, I'd opt for shorter breaks (or no breaks!).
Friday and Saturday should be the 'weekend'.
Sunday should be the off day. Everything should be closed, and everyone can just chill out. Ah, joy.

[MadduckUK]

id like that

[G4Z]

Yeah, I agree that this is a really sensible option. This govt legislates for everything but the important stuff and it should be required that companies and public sector jobs that are not service based (i.e you don't have to be available to do your job, so back office stuff things of that nature). I would also like to see legislation that requires organisations to use teleworking where possible and even offer subsidies for it. Can you imagine the impact that would have on congestion?

[Lucio]

Well, I don't know if it is such a good idea. I've worked a 3 & 4 day week back when I was a care assisstant/trainee nurse and quite frankly it's a lot more tiring, I actually prefered doing 6 shorter shifts

From the point of view of a business, I'm sure there could be some advantages (maybe two shifts one doing half the week, the other doing the other half and thus being open 24/7) but all in all, I think we're far too ingrained with Monday to Friday to change...

[Stringent]

Or even Mon, Tues, Weds off then work Thurs and Fri. That would be a lot better.

A care assistant is a different kettle of fish IMO. It could only work in some cases.

However, you would also save. 1/5th travel, save lunch for one day ... Economically it would be good.

[alsenior]

i'm all in i do 7days a week here so i would defiantly be all in

[rastamanblues]

A few jobs ive been looking at have been a similar sort of set up, as in for a few weeks, you'd work mon, weds, + fri (11 ish hour days)
Then the next few weeks ud work mon, tues, weds etc.

But it would mean that If I did go out the night before work it would actually kill me the next day!

[chicken]

I'd like to say yes, but because of my workload as the sole IT person/programmer here I find I'm often burnt out by the end of the day.

As much as I'd like the extra day on the weekend, I don't think I would be able to maintain the same level of productivity for an extra 2 hours

[nichomach]

I can see the attractions, and I'd love a 3-day weekend. That said, I'm the one who takes our daughter to nursery every day and brings her home in the evenings. If it could accommodate some flexibility to allow me to continue doing that while still not resulting in my daughter suddenly being stuck with 10-hour days then maybe, but I'm not sure how practicable that would be.

[HSK]

hmm yea id be up for that, although gettin up early is a killer for me, having more days off would be an inscentive. lol

[Steven W]

*raises hand* I'm all for it, though I'd rather still start at 9am and finish later.

[Salazaar]

I don't think I could do a day like that, not and get a trip to the gym in as well.

If you're in the right sort of company why not just negotiate it with your manager? So long as you're doing your 40 hours (or whatever) who cares how many days its over.