Work just four days a week on a regular basis, and still earn normal wages. Or make time to run errands, attend events and see family by choosing when you work.

A compressed work week gives you the benefit of an extra day off by allowing you to work your usual number of hours in fewer days per pay period. Work four 10-hour days each week and then enjoy a three day weekend, or work 80 hours in nine days with an extra day off every other week.

Flextime refers to a work schedule that lets you set your own work hours within limits established by management.

Benefits

Both a compressed work week schedule and flextime allow you to work around peak commuting times, so getting to and from work is faster and easier. Also, you can structure work around your daily life and obligations.

Your employer might thank you, too! According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, compressed work weeks and flextime both generally lead to:

• Increased employee satisfaction
• Increased employee retention
• Decreased tardiness and absenteeism
• Extended hours of service
• Increased productivity and efficiency

Get Started

Many employers already have flextime or compressed schedule policies already in place. Once you have a copy of the policy, you may need to demonstrate to your manager that your job responsibilities are suitable for flextime or a compressed schedule. Typically, jobs that require customer service, such as working as a receptionist or telephone operator, are less suited to a flexible schedule. Though, when done correctly, compressed schedules can increase customer service hours.

If your employer doesn’t have a policy already in place, you can do your own research and present it to your management team. In addition to being great for you, there are benefits for your employer too. We've listed some resources to get you started.

Save with Compressed Work Weeks
You can save some cash by working a Compressed Work Week. Use this calculator to see how much.