Compressed Work Week

A compressed work week allows employees to work fewer days by extending their hours on the days they are in the office. Examples include a 4/40 schedule, where employees work four 10-hour days, and a 9/80 schedule, where employees work nine days over two weeks, with extended daily hours. A new model, the 4/32 schedule, reduces the workweek to 32 hours over four days instead of 40. Implementing a 4/32 schedule typically requires changes in state or federal legislation to reduce the standard 40-hour workweek to 32 hours while maintaining the same pay.

Common formats include working 40 hours in four days instead of five. Or 80 hours in nine days instead of ten. Compressed work weeks have been shown to lower facilities costs and extend customer service hours.