Compressed Workweek
What are the benefits to me as an employee?
Similar to flexible work hours, a compressed workweek allows you to travel to and from work at non-peak hours. Typically, a compressed workweek is 4 days per week/10 hour shifts, 3 days/12 hour shift, or 9 hour shifts with one day off on alternating weeks. Schedules such as this allow employees to have more free time in their off hours as well as more productive time at work.
What can I do?
- Check with the human resources department on your company's alternative work schedule policy, which may include both compressed workweeks and flexible work hours.
- Discuss with your supervisor what schedule would work best for your department's work load as well as you personally; be sure to think about the work demands of your area.
- If there currently is no policy regarding alternative work schedules, ask your HR department to survey employees to determine level of interest in compressed workweek arrangements.
Case Study: Macy's
Alternative work schedule in a retail environment is relatively unusual. But, 7,000 employees in 50+ stores in the northwest region work a variety of schedules, 40 percent of whom work a compressed workweek, in order to accommodate personal needs. As evidenced by employee surveys, flexible work hours are second only to pay and medical insurance in terms of valued benefits. Benefits of the program cited by the company include being an effective tool for retention and recruitment, increased employee satisfaction, improved coverage, more teamwork and cross-training, reduced absenteeism and enhanced employee work/life balance. However, the program has not been without its challenges and a few of the lessons learned by Macy's include making employees complete a probationary period before being allowed to use an alternative work schedule and the importance of long-term benefits such as employee retention to management.
Source: www.commuterchallenge.org/cc/casestudies/cs_macys.html
Weblinks
www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm15.htm - Victoria Transportation Policy Institute Alternative Work Schedules
www.commuterchallenge.org/cc/flexschedules/compressed.html - Commuter Challenge
www.hr.upenn.edu/quality/worklife/flexoptions/training.aspx - Flexible Work Hours Training Materials