Compressed Workweek: Overcoming the Fatigue Factor
A compressed workweek of four 10-hour days allows an employee to save on
gasoline costs and have more time off, so it's no wonder I'm seeing more and
more interest in this flexible work arrangement.
If you decide to propose this work option, why not arrange it to best recharge your
mental and physical batteries? First I'll address...
Which Work Days NOT to Take Off
Avoid choosing Monday as your off day. Career visibility and involvement may
wane if you miss out on the action that characterizes the beginning of the week
in most workplaces.
Besides, many (US) national holidays have offices officially closed on a Monday,
so you may enjoy the occasional three-day weekend anyway.
Taking Fridays has appeal; it tends to be a slower business day and the prospect
of a three-day weekend—every week—is hard to resist.
But keep in mind that supportive working relationships are vital to nurturing
your career. Taking every Friday off may result in a wall of resentment over
time among co-workers and subordinates—-even superiors—who don't enjoy a similar
arrangement. That could be a prescription for an eventual fall-out.
So scrap Mondays and Fridays as your regular weekday off. Besides, a workweek of
four 10-hour days in a row just adds to the full-time-work fatigue factor and
fails to deliver the best benefits that come from having a flexible work
arrangement.
What About Getting the Work Done?
As a professional, maybe you're already working 10-hour days for four or
five days a week. Surely you couldn't take a full day off each week and
still get the work done.
Or could you?
So which weekday should you take off?
Why I Recommend Wednesdays Off
I recommend Wednesdays as the off day if it can be arranged within the
context of your job.
Having a midweek break from work allows you to pause your pace which can
restore a sense of personal control over your home life.
It could be an activity-filled day: maybe something child-related like a school
field trip; shopping, errands, personal appointments and chores are also
typical.
Yet, you may find that the shift in activities midstream in your workweek
refreshes you for the week's remaining two workdays.
And what a relief to have weekends devoted to genuine leisure and family
time, not just a squeeze-in and catch-up time of errands and chores.
Most of us are moving in and out of multiple roles in a hectic fashion
throughout the week anyway. A calmer-paced rhythm of two days 'on' and one
(Wednesday) or two days (weekends) 'off' can help you overcome fatigue and
enhance both your work and personal lives.
A couple of other options:
- You could take Friday as the 'off' day occasionally, say, before a
three-day (Monday holiday) weekend.
- Add telecommuting to your proposal and request Fridays as a
work-from-home day.
Give it a go and let me know how it works out for you.
The Fastest Way to Write a Compressed
Workweek Proposal
If you're looking for a fast-track way to put together a
professional, organized, convincing proposal to work
full-time in four days, order the
Compressed Workweek Proposal Package.
“Many thanks for the research and structure you
provide to create a winning proposal; my compressed workweek schedule has
been approved. I was able to communicate my needs while providing my
employer with a plan to get the work done. It is a win-win.”
Diana Mezick, Administrative Assistant, Greek Orthodox Church of St. George,
Bethesda, MD
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