9/80 Work Schedule: Definition, Implementation, Pros & Cons

Nearly 8 in 10 workers worldwide say flexible working hours matter to them. And companies that offer that are in high demand.

Enter the 9/80 work schedule: a compressed arrangement with one extra day off every 9 days! Giving employees a full extra day off every other week without reducing total hours worked.

The result? More breathing room and a better work-life balance, with no compromise on output.

Whether you’re a business owner or HR manager, a 9/80 work schedule can be transformative.

What is a 9/80 Work Schedule?

A 9/80 work schedule is a compressed arrangement where you work 80 hours over 9 days instead of the usual 10 days. Normally, you'd work 80 hours across two weeks, with five days each week.

With this schedule, you’re working the same total hours but on fewer days. The bonus? You get an extra day off!

If I say it more specifically, here is what this work schedule looks like.

• Total of eight 9-hour work days.
• One eight-hour workday.
• Then alternate days off.

This schedule generally spreads over two weeks. To make it easier for you, here is a comparison of the 9/80 schedule with regular workweeks.

How Does the 9/80 Work Schedule Operate?

Now that you know what a 9/80 work schedule is, you might be confused about how you can apply this schedule.

Here I’ll show you how the schedule operates and an example of its application.

Sample of 9/80 Work Schedule

The following detailed schedule shows what a normal 9/80 work schedule looks like.

This is just an example of the 9/80 work schedule. There can also be variations.

For example, the first week can be 45 hours. The second week will then be 35 hours. The total work hours will be the same as 80 hours.

Whatever you prefer!

The 9/80 work schedule increases productivity and engagement and improves work-life balance.

9/80 Work Schedule Template

Here, I’ll show you two templates that you can replicate to ensure a proper application of a 9/80 work schedule. It will help you grasp the perception of a 9/80 work schedule for hourly employees.

Suppose a week starts on the 5th. For two weeks, it will be completed on the 18th, as the 9/80 work schedule generally spans two weeks.

In this two-week work period, employees will have nine workdays per the 9/80 work schedule.

From the 7th to the 10th, employees will work 9 hours each day. It will cover 36 hours of work.

On the 11th, employees will work 8 hours instead of 9 hours. That’s an 8-hour workday.

From the 14th to the 17th, they will again have four 9-hour workdays. It will cover another 36 hours of work.

So, in total, your employees will work 80 hours. (36 hours + 8 hours + 36 hours = 80 hours).

9/80 Schedule Template

More importantly, they will enjoy five days off on the 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, and 18th. The last day is an additional holiday. It helps your employees bring more balance to their work-life process.
Similar read: Employee Productivity Tracker Template

9/80 Work Week Advantages

Go through the advantages of the 9/80 schedule I’ve observed while practicing it in my company.

1. Proper Work-Life Balance is Ensured

Better work-life balance is the key to increasing productivity and enhancing well-being.

The employees get at least one extra day off each month. It offers them additional time to focus on personal matters.

Not only me, but Christine Macdonald, one of the founders of The Hub Events, also said so.

“The biggest advantage of a compressed work schedule like 9/80 is that employees spend less time commuting. Moreover, they get more time outside of work to take care of their personal duties.”

2. Efficiency and Productivity Boost

It’s the thing I love the most about this work schedule.

My employees are likely to have fewer personal matter-related work interruptions.

That’s because they are getting an extra day off.

Moreover, the schedule allows employees more time in a day. So they can complete their task more efficiently and focused.

Similar Read: 11 Ways to Increase Productivity in the Workplace

3. A Subtle Point of Difference for the Companies

Now that we know, the 9/80 work schedule is still in its nascent stage of flourishment, so companies can use the feature to lure more talented employees towards their workspace.

You know, 66% of employees consider a shorter workweek as an attractive perk for new job offers.

Moreover, a Drive Research study says 56 percent of employees would prefer a 40-hour, four-day workweek.

4. Decrease Absenteeism

When you implemented a 9/80 flex work schedule, your employees would likely not take many days off.

They can complete their personal to-do lists on the extra two days off in a month.

Moreover, you’ll notice better adherence to their schedule.

5. Scheduling Flexibility

I know shift coverage on the extra day off is concerning to most of the employees.

But the 9/80 schedule also makes it easier than you think.

For example, here’s what you can do.

Split your employees into two teams. One team takes Friday off, and the other Monday off.

Thus, your company can remain open from Monday to Friday without any interruptions.

6. Improved Environment

A less day in the office means a month per year with less air pollution due to commuter smoke.

So, thinking from an environmental perspective, it would be a wise decision to implement the 9/80 work schedule.

7. Cut Down the Fuel Costs

One extra off day means you needn't put the car out of the garage unless you plan for a picnic or holiday shopping.

This would give you enough space to save on fuel costs for your vehicle.

Microsoft Japan is one of the pioneers of 9/80 work schedules and one of its biggest advocates too. Their feedback on the 9/80 work schedule gives us unprecedented insight. They claimed that their productivity rose by almost 40% when they applied the new schedules where people work for nine days instead of 10 days on a bi-weekly basis but touch the 80-hour threshold of working. They also reported that their electricity consumption fell by 23% and printing paper fell by a whopping 60%!

Perpetual Guardian, a trust management company based in New Zealand, recently said that, after implementing the 9/80 work schedule, their productivity skyrocketed to 20%, and employee’s work-life balance improved by 45%.

9/80 Work Week Disadvantage

On the flip side, potential pitfalls are also present with the 9/80 work schedule. For instance,

1. A More Extended Working Day

That’s true; it's only an extra hour in a day with a 9/80 schedule. But an extra four hours in a week!

This may lead to fatigue for some employees and affect their well-being.

Moreover, one hour more work can also cause more stress and less sleep. Matt Erhard, the managing partner at recruiting firm Summit Search Group, said:

“Some employees are able to maintain consistently working strong for an entire 10-hour shift. But others may check out after six or seven hours. mentally.   That means you will get fewer effective work hours from them under a compressed schedule.”

2. Expense of sick-day leave

In a standard 8-hour workday, if an employee falls sick, he/she would enjoy a leave of 8 hours.

However, for the 9/80 work schedule, the company has to bear the cost of that extra hour for that employee.

3. The ‘Depleting Motivation’ Issue

An extra day off in two weeks is astonishing; an additional month off in a year is incredible!

But before sinking into the amusement, we must think of the momentary exhaustion we undergo while working an extra hour on a given day.

Further read: How to Keep Your Assistants Engaged and Motivated

4. Problems for the Newbies

An employee who is habituated to working a standard 8-hour day would be highly out of touch for the first few days in his new office, where a 9/80 work schedule is running.

Even your employees will face difficulties adapting to the new routine when you decide to replace the 8-hour workday with the 9-hour workday.

5. Threats to Small Businesses

Small businesses and startups will be on the brink of high risks when this 9/80 workday is started in their workplace.

As small businesses have fewer employees, the work shift might cause a lack of employees in a given project.

6. Payroll and Regulatory Issues

The 9/80 work schedule also adds complexity to the payroll. It requires adjustments for sick leaves and vacation days due to the different daily hours.

Moreover, overtime issues may also arise because the employee works 4 hours extra every other week.

7. The Cost of ‘Extra Day Off’

If a highly profitable business stays closed or off for 26 days a year, it mightn't face a loss but would lose an opportunity to make more money.

Popular Read:
↘️15 Different Work Schedule Types

How to Address the Challenges of the 9/80 Work Schedule?

Look, after all the disadvantages, it may feel like what’s the point then? However, there are many ways to address most of the challenges.

So, here’s how you can tackle the 9/80 schedule:

Communicating the 9/80 Policy Clearly

A 9/80 schedule only works if everyone knows exactly how it functions. That’s why a written policy should define:

• Start and end times
• How the “split Friday” works and which pay period gets which hours
• Overtime rules
• PTO / sick leave in hours, not just days

The County of Los Angeles follows a formal 9/80 policy for many departments.

Maintaining Service with Smart Staffing

If your business serves clients or customers, a staggered 9/80 schedule actually helps more. Because you actually have a rotating roster. So, even if half of the team is on leave, the other half will be serving.

Many manufacturing and engineering organizations adopt staggered 9/80 shifts to avoid service gaps. Even the US Office lists the scope of the 9/80 schedule very openly.

The key is to have clear communication with your clients and offer a great customer experience. When your client's demands are met, there’s hardly any chance of fallouts.

Using Reliable Tech and Tools

Manual tracking of compressed schedules can result in payroll mistakes. Modern time-tracking systems that support 9/80 make the transition much safer and easier.

That’s why it’s better to use tracking tools like Apploye. It’s easy, accurate, and saves tons of time & money!

Who Will Benefit The Most from a 9/80 Schedule?

Are you planning to implement a 9/80 work schedule and see the differences?

Before doing that, go through the following points to evaluate whether this approach is beneficial for you.

1. Specialist Job

If you think that your employees are specialists to a large extent, then allowing some respite, i.e., implementing a 9/80 work schedule, can be fruitful.

Moreover, if your business needs extra hours to meet the client's requirements, then the 9/80 work schedule is considerable.

The schedule will support your needs while reducing the risk of burnout. Because employees are getting an extra day off.

2. Focusing on Reducing Overtime Costs

If your company is looking to minimize overtime expenses, then you may find the 9/80 work schedule beneficial.

In this schedule, you are extending the workday by 9 hours. But compressing 80 hours into two weeks.

Thus, you can reduce overtime costs while maintaining efficiency.

3. Low Customer Interaction

Are you a software company or any other generic company that has little to no face-to-face customer interaction? In that case, you are an excellent fit for the 9/80 work schedule. Also in tech companies, the 9/80 schedule greatly complements agile planning and process.

4. ‘Take it all’ Company

Are you a pharmaceutical company or a behemoth fast-food restaurant chain?

Then you are probably the wrong candidate for the 9/80 work. schedule. You can make huge profits every day, and a day off means a lean patch week for you.

5. Multitudinous Activities

Are you running the production line of a large corporation? Then, thinking of a 9/80 work schedule might be imprudent.

A product line requires employees 24/7, and it’s an interdependent job, so a day off means you won’t be able to catch up with the growing demand.

So, it would be sensible to stick to the earlier approach to work.

Is a 9/80 Work Schedule Right for Your Business?

A 9/80 work schedule isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. So, ultimately, it depends.

The schedule may work well for some businesses. But may not be for others.

For instance,

Industries and operations

First, the type of your business and operating hours come into consideration.

Like tech startups or engineering firms. Your employees can provide longer working periods with fewer interruptions in these businesses.

The same goes for creative agencies and professional services.

But it can be totally the opposite for retail businesses. That’s because this business needs staffing during its operating hours.

Moreover, if you own a small business, a 9/80 work schedule may not be worthwhile.

You may face difficulties covering the operating hours with a limited number of employees.

Employee preference

Furthermore, the perspective of employees also matters here. Some employees may not prefer to work longer hours or otherwise.

A case study shows half the employees of one company initially accepted the 9/80 work schedule after seeing the benefits.

97% of the employees in the study wanted to continue with the four-day workweek schedule.

As a result, the revenue increased by 35%. So, you have to keep these things in mind.

Payroll & Policies

You have already noticed that payroll can be critical in a 9/80 schedule. Plus, overtime policies and labor laws can be a tricky situation.

For those, you first need to talk with legal counsel. Then, you need to have a proper payroll system or advanced payroll software. Otherwise, you can be sure of facing some serious consequences!

How To Implement the 9/80 Schedule Effectively?

After all that you learned, I’m pretty sure you’re thinking about adopting this schedule. However, before you implement it, here’s a quick guide that will confirm the operational effectiveness:

If you’re more concerned about the payroll, then we have you covered! Follow the next section to learn more.

How Payroll Works for a 9/80 Work Schedule?

The 9/80 work schedule is beneficial in many ways. But let me be honest here.

This schedule might run you into potential overtime issues. That’s because your employees will clock 44 hours every other week.

So, from the payroll perspective, of course, you’ll not want to pay four hours of overtime every other week. At best, you need to track hours over two-week periods.

How? That’s as follows:

Week 1:

• Monday to Thursday: 9 hours each day. For instance, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday: Four hours only. For instance, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Total Hours for Week One: 40 hours

Week 2:

• Friday (First Day): The remaining 4 hours from the previous Friday. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday to Thursday: 9 hours each day. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday (last day): day off.

Total Hours for Week Two: 40 hours

Here’s my 9/80 work schedule for my employees, mitigating all the challenges.

What are the Legal Considerations Involved in the 9/80 Schedule?

Actually, there are no federal laws that restrict or prohibit the 9/80 work schedule.

However, you should be aware of some existing labor laws. For instance,

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) law mainly preserves the overtime pay rights of employees.

You have to pay overtime for any employee who has worked more than 40 hours in a week.

The overtime pay must be 1.5 times your regular pay rate under this law.

State Laws

You should also check your state laws. That’s because there can be restrictions in your state.

For instance, the overtime rules of California.

The law says if your employee works more than 8 hours in a day, it’ll be considered overtime.

The state also has rules on alternative work schedules. You will require approval from the labor standards enforcement agency of the state before implementing the schedules.

Conclusion

To sum up, a 9/80 work schedule can be a good fit for you if you want a flexible workweek. Moreover, a better work-life balance for your employees.

You can enhance employee productivity and engagement with this schedule. The plus point?—even without reducing the hours they work.

All we need to approach this change with careful consideration. Plan carefully and use the right tools to manage the schedule effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which industries use the 9-hour workday?

Generally, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing companies use the 9-hour workday. These industries require extra operational hours and extra attention. The 9-hour work schedule helps the business meet the needs of these high-demand environments.

What are the rules for a 9/80 schedule?

As the genetic rule for a 9/80 work schedule, it contains a total of eight 9-hour working days, one eight-hour day over two weeks. As a result, the employee gets an extra day off. But the employees work the same 80 hours in two weeks.

What is a 9-80 work schedule with every other Friday off?

A 9/80 work schedule is a compressed work schedule. The employee works for 80 hours over 9 days in this schedule. Total eight nine-hour days and one 8-hour day. But the employees get every other Friday off. That means a long weekend twice a month.

What is a 9-80 schedule with synchronized off days?

A 9/80 schedule with synchronized off days means that the employees will have the same Friday off every other week. It’s an alternative schedule to the usual working model. That is 8 hours a day for five days a week.

How does overtime work on a 9/80?

When an employee works more than 40 hours in a week, overtime happens. Here, Fridays are split into two halves. Afternoon hours count on one week, and morning hours count on the other. It avoids overtime. But suppose your employee works more than 40 hours before Friday noon. You have to pay for overtime now. It’ll be 1.5 times your normal rate.

Do you get a lunch break on a 9/80 work schedule?

You get a lunch break on a 9/80 work schedule. For instance, suppose you start your work at 5 am or 6 am. The end of your duty is 3 pm or 4 pm. Here you will get a break for lunch in the middle, of course.

Does the 9/80 schedule exceed the 40-hour workweek?

The 9/80 work schedule is generally a two-week work schedule. Here also the employee also has to work the same 80 hours as the traditional standard schedule. But the traditional schedule has 40 hours a week. In the 9/80 work schedule, one week has 44 hours of employment and the other week has 36 hours, for a total of 80 hours.

How many days a week do Americans work?

Most full-time Americans typically work five days a week. The standard schedule runs Monday through Friday. Some industries follow alternative setups like compressed weeks, shift work, or rotating schedules.

How long is lunch break for a 9/80 work schedule?

A 9/80 schedule usually includes a lunch break of 30 to 60 minutes. Most companies default to a full hour. The break does not count toward the 80 working hours, so it's taken outside the tracked schedule.

What are some companies with every other Friday off (9/80 schedule)?

Many large organizations, especially in engineering, aerospace, and energy, offer 9/80 schedules. Examples include Chevron, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and BAE Systems. These companies use the compressed setup to boost flexibility and reduce burnout.