No matter what type of job you do, being productive is the most important thing. In the traditional professional world, companies use the 9-to-5 work schedule in order to maintain a productive routine.
However, some companies are now using the 9/80 work schedule, which works a little differently. In this schedule, employees work long hours so that they can earn an extra day off every other week.
In this article, I am going to discuss what the 9/80 schedule is. I’ll go over its meaning and importance, and also cover its schedule format in detail. Let’s start.
What is a 9/80 Work Schedule?
The 9/80 work schedule is a working routine where employees work nine hours for 8 days, eight hours for one day, and get one extra day off every other week.
In the professional world, employees usually have to complete 40 working hours. To complete this target, they usually have five 8-hour workdays every week.
The 9/80 work schedule, however, consists of a set of two weeks. In the first week, employees work for 9 hours for the first four days. On the fifth day, they work for eight hours. The next week is the same, but one day of the second week is off (usually a Friday).
The working hours are flexible in this format. Managers can decide when the shift starts and when it ends.
For Example
In a usual 9/80 schedule, the working hours are between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. However, companies can make changes to it as well. they can keep the working hours between 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM as well.
Simple Breakdown
To help you understand the 9/80 work schedule meaning, I’ve broken down this schedule below in simple terms:
First week:
- 4 days of 9-hour work
- 1 day of 8-hour work
- 2 weekend days
Second week:
- 4 days of 9-hour work
- 1 extra day off
- 2 weekend days
According to this working schedule, employees get to enjoy a total of 10 off days every month instead of 8.
Detailed 9/80 Schedule Format
If you’re a businessman who wants to utilize the 9/80 schedule in your company, you need to understand its format properly first. I’ve discussed this format below, and you can also use it as a 9/80 work schedule template:
| Day | Week 1 (Hours Worked) | Week 2 (Hours Worked) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 hours | 9 hours |
| Tuesday | 9 hours | 9 hours |
| Wednesday | 9 hours | 9 hours |
| Thursday | 9 hours | 9 hours |
| Friday | 8 hours | Extra Day off |
| Saturday | Day off | Day off |
| Sunday | Day off | Day off |
Importance Of The 9/80 Work Schedule
The 9/80 work schedule is now becoming popular in the professional world. Companies that want to make their teams more effective are utilizing this routine.
I’ve discussed some points below that will help you understand the importance of this routine:
1. Improved Work-Life Balance
This working routine helps a lot with work-life balance. Some people need proper days off instead of early leaves to enjoy their personal lives. These types of employees work better in this schedule while avoiding any type of burnout whatsoever.
An extra day off that the employees get every other week is more than enough to have breathing space from the workload. They get to start the next one with more energy and positivity to work towards their goals.
2. Improved Productivity
Another point that explains the importance of this work schedule is improved productivity. Employees have to work longer but fewer days each week. As a result, they remain focused on their tasks and perform professional activities without any interruptions.
Long hours allow people to complete complex tasks quickly and complete work before deadlines. Besides this, knowing that there’s an extra day off at the end keeps them motivated enough to complete work with complete productivity.
3. Reduced Commute Time & Expenses
The commute is a huge part of a person’s professional life. People have to commute every day to work, which can waste time as well as money.
In this work schedule, people have to work fewer days in a week. It means they have to commute less and save both money and time.
4. Better Employee Satisfaction
Sometimes, all employees need to stay satisfied is a focused work environment and proper resting time. This is precisely what the 9/80 work schedule offers. It has the “work harder and enjoy more” type of approach.
Employees know that when they give extra effort at work every day, they will be rewarded with proper time off. This time off will be necessary for their emotional and physical recovery. As a result, they stay satisfied, and the employee retention rate can increase.
🧠 Fact: The average U.S. employee spends over 200 hours annually commuting. Reducing just one commute every two weeks can save up to 20+ hours per year!
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5. Recruitment Advantages
Many good talents avoid working in an office because of the boring 9-to-5 schedule. However, when you use the 9/80 work schedule, it shows that your company values flexibility and promotes work-life balance.
It’s a good point to convince people to join the company. It makes the organization more appealing to work for professionals. As a result, you can hire more talented individuals.
6. Cost-Saving For Companies
Employees aren’t the only ones who get to save the cost of commuting while working in the 9/80 schedule. It also helps companies save expenses.
When there are fewer working days, companies get to save costs of things like electricity and office supplies. This money can be used in better places for the growth of the company.
Disadvantages Of the 9/80 Work Schedule:
The 9/80 work schedule not only brings positive factors. It also comes with some disadvantages that you should be aware of. Some of the major ones are discussed below:
1. Exhausting Routine
It is an exhausting work routine on a day-to-day basis. It’s not ideal for people who get easily tired of working and have a hard time maintaining focus on work. Longer working hours can stop them from delivering results in the best way possible.
2. Not Suitable For All Employees
This schedule is not suitable for all employees. Everyone lives a different type of life. Some people, such as parents and caregivers, have more daily responsibilities than others. They cannot afford to spend extra hours at work because it will disturb their personal lives to a great extent.
3. Legal Issues
Although not very common, legal issues can also bring problems while using this work schedule. In many regions, companies are bound to offer extra pay time if employees work more than the standard eight-hour day.
As a result, companies may have to submit an official request to the authorities for them to use the 9/80 work schedule.
Pros And Cons Of 9/80 Work Schedule
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Extra day off every other week | Longer days can exhaust people |
| Better work focus and productivity | Legal compliance might be confusing in some regions |
| Decent work-life balance | Not suitable for all companies and employee types |
| A decent option for employee retention | |
| Reduced commute and office management costs |
Ending Lines
The 9/80 work schedule promotes both work and resting time. In this schedule, people work longer hours each week and get an extra day off every other week. This is a very productive approach for people who can work for long hours and are eager to get proper days off for recovery.
Companies that use this approach can be more productive and offer better work-life balance to employees. However, before you use this schedule in your company, know that it also comes with some disadvantages.
People Also Ask
The 9/80 work schedule means employees have to work long-hour days (nine 9-hour days nd one 8-hour day) in the span of two weeks. As a reward, they get to enjoy an extra day off.
The healthiest work schedule depends on the nature of the company’s employees. However, the standard 9-to-5 and the 9/80 work schedules are pretty healthy to use in a company.
The 80-hour work week means employees have to work for 80 hours each week.
12-hour shifts can be exhausting, but they work perfectly for some people. They allow employees to complete more work each day and have more rest days in the week.
It is the standard work schedule used in the 9-to-5 routine. It means that employees have to work for 8 hours for five days a week.
Well, it mainly depends on your personal preference. Both of these formats focus on long working hours and more days off. However, picking 9/80 is a little better because of shorter working days compared to 4/10.
If you want a balanced work week, the 5/40 schedule would be decent. However, if you want to work for long hours and get extra rest time, 9/80 is a better choice.
