4-Day Work Week

[redbirdjazzz]

When I'm president I'm going to eliminate Wednesday. It's a useless, frustrating day. Then everybody's work week will be a 4 day week.

This idea is infallible.

Woden will not be happy. You don't want the All-Father unhappy with you.

[jim]

I wonder how many people say "4 day work week" and thought 4x10 vs 4x8. No thanks to the 4x10, but a 4x8 would be sweet.

I was watching the Spanish speaking version of Family fued once and the question was how many hours would you like to work in a day. The spoiled American that I am thought that it would be 0, or maybe 2 as the popular answers. 8 was the most popular answer, and 10 was the second most popular answer. At first I didn't understand what they were talking about, but then I snapped out of my trance and realized that normal non spoiled people equate work with money and food and providing for your family.

Kind of made me think a little bit actually.

[Gashouse]

I wonder how many people say "4 day work week" and thought 4x10 vs 4x8. No thanks to the 4x10, but a 4x8 would be sweet.

I did 4x10 for a few months, and it kind of sucked. I ran out of gas at the end of the day on days 3 and 4.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I would rather have a goal oriented workweek than an hour oriented workweek. For example, let's say you're making benches in a warehouse setting for a living (just go with it). Management figures you can make 1 bench an hour, and they schedule you to work 43 hours a week. They expect 43 benches. But, instead of saying, we want 43 benches, they say, 'hey, your job is to make benches and your schedule is [insert some 43 hour work week schedule]. We will pay you $X/hour. Then, they monitor your productivity to ensure you're hitting your target and calculate the hours worked at the end of every 2 weeks and cut a check. Would it not just be easier to say, 'hey, make us 43 benches/week and we will pay you X'. One thing to monitor....output, and one thing for the worker to worry about....getting benches made.

I just don't understand the business world sometimes.

[jim]

I would just rather not work.

Having said that our place is more goal driven, at least that's my vision and since I lead a large group that's what I share. I really don't care when people get to work, when they leave, or how many hours they work. I care about what they get done. And, having managed this group for almost 5 years now, I am pretty certain there is an inverse correlation between hours worked and work accomplished. My best worker leaves at 3pm sharp (in at 7-ish), except on days where she wants to leave a little early to get a long bike ride in, or fix her car, or the hundreds of other excuses she comes up with on a regular basis. She told me once she was leaving early because she was bored, I said ok.

Now on the flip side, there is a guy here was a manager and demoted into my group. By traditional standards, a wonderful work ethic. In at 7, even on Monday's when he can't out until 5. Probably works 45+ hours every single week. He's not great, he does some things pretty well but overall pretty meh. He just doesn't have the technical skills to get work done, he gets caught up in so many details that don't matter, that he just grinds and grinds away and just doesn't get things done.

And this scenario plays out all of the time. The best employees are the ones that work a normal work week with a normal amount of screwing around in that, and have talent. The worst of course is the talentless person who also cheats, but I don't really have that. I have talented people that probably work 30 hours tops, and I have some so not talented people that work 45. I'll take the 30 every time.

But also I understand there are jobs where you kind of have to have coverage, work the full 8 etc.. But that's what software developers do, and keeping that timeclock mentality is nonsense.

[Jocephus]

they've offered 4x10 shifts here thru the summer months. when i first read the email i was thinking maybe but as i read thru the whole thing, nah, i'll pass. i appreciate the offer though.