4/10's, 9/80's, or 9 to 5??

[FallnAngel 0]

Hi, All -

My workplace is offering us "alternative work schedules"...Just wanted to get opinions from others on which you would choose, especially from those who have tried this sort of thing in the past.

Here are the choices:

1. work 10 hours per day, 4 days per week, every Friday off

2. work 9 hours per day, with every other Friday off

3. keep doing the 9 to 5 thing

Just FYI, I have a 45-min commute on either side of my workday and we have to commit to 6 months on whatever schedule we select.

So, what do y'all think?

blue skies,
Karen

[sar911 0]

I have worked the 10 hour day/ four day work week for a couple of years now and love it. It's great having three day weekend every week and it cuts down on the driving time.
Just think that you will have an extra 52 days a year to be in the air !!! Hope this helps.
Mike

[jtval 0]

I think 4 10's would be great.think of all those 3 day weekends...

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[Michele 1]

Hi, Karen

Quote

I have a 45-min commute on either side of my workday

Commute time may change if you take the 4/10, because you'd be altering your travel time, and *may* miss traffic on either side of the rush...just something to keep in mind.

I think having a 4 day week would be a good thing. And if it's only for 6 months, then, even if it sux, you know it's ending on XX day, and you change it then (right?)

Ciels and Pinks-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[Iflyme 0]

Work Sucks! You'd be better off winning the lottery...

[slotperfect 7]

For me, there would be lots of contributing factors:
-family life in the evenings
-how much I liked/disliked my job
-what the payoff would be for changing from 9 to 5

Using the 9-hour and every-other-Friday option, and taking your 45 minute commute and inserting it into my own personal schedule, I see things would look like this for me:

PLUS: Fridays to run errands, make my appointments, do household chores, etc. FREES UP MY WEEKENDS!
PLUS: The last hour of work would be extremely productive because of less interruptions after the 9-to-5'ers have gone home.
PLUS: Three day weekends open up a lot of mini-vacation possibilities that are just not worth the drive time for a two-day weekend (BOOGIES!).
PLUS: Less traffic on the drive home 'cause you're catching the tail end of rush hour.
MINUS: I would miss or delay the evening meal with my family.
MINUS: I would not be available to get my kids started on their homework.
MINUS: It would ALWAYS be dark on the drive home in the Winter.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you choose!!

Arrive Safely

John

[Deuce 1]

4 X 10!

Especially if you commute, your day is pretty much wrecked anyway. On Fridays you get all your household stuff done, Bank, supermarket, drycleaners' etc. And the weekend is really yours to enjoy.

I had 4 X 10's for 10 years. I loved it. If you have kids, it will also reduce your childcare costs if you keep them with you on Fridays. The only drawback for kids is that it's a long day in daycare for them, but you have more quality time on the weekends.

If you don't have kids it's a no-brainer. Three day weekend every week and 4 dayers on Monday holidays!

ENVY!

JP

[dbattman 0]

What type of work is involved? Unless it's a punch-clock deal (hit in at 9, hit out a 5) take the 4x10. Anything technical, engineering, IT, etc if you try to go 9 to 5, you'll almost alway end up going 9 to 6 or so taking care of those last minute issues.

[FallnAngel 0]

Wow! Thanks for the responses! It's really nice to have some opinions on this
Just a little more background for those that asked: I work in IT doing desktop support (pc,mac,linux), I support physicists & chemists, and I personally think it's the best job in the world! dbattman is right though, my days almost always run to 10 hours if I take a lunch break, and 9 hours if I work straight through. I don't have kids (just a hubby & 2 dogs). I have a business on the side (stitchery, quilting, folk-art painting...I do shows throughout the year, that are typically Fri-Sat-Sun). And I have a wicked hunger for skydiving that must be fed

For those of you that have done the 4/10's...did it leave you just exhausted by Thurs night? Were you still able to make time for workouts and other things in the evening? I would definitely jump on a vanpool...I commute with landmissle right now since we work at the same place, but their group isn't going to an alternate work schedule.

Thanks again for all the input! I do appreciate it!

Karen <==hoping to be in the blue sky soon, 'cause it's been 6 weeks now & counting!!

[skydiverbrian 0]

Quote

For those of you that have done the 4/10's...did it leave you just exhausted by Thurs night? Were you still able to make time for workouts and other things in the evening?

You're definitely thinking in the right direction. I work two 14-hour shifts and one 12-hour shift each week. It's great to have 4 days off each week, but there's no room for anything in between. No evening workouts, coffee with the girls, beers with the guys, etc.

In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal

[JohnnyD 0]

4 10s is the way to go!
You will hardly notice two extra hours at work, but you will definately notice the entire extra day off.