The weekly rhythm of working is stressful enough, but as your company grows, so does the number of employees. To help employees understand this change and adjust to the new work environment, you may choose to schedule a 9/80 shift. This schedule can be more efficient than other types of schedules. This way your employees can be more productive for the time they are at work. According to FinancesOnline Employees are only productive for 2 hours and 23 minutes per day. The remainder of their workday is used to check social media (44 minutes), browse news sites (1 hour, 5 minutes), discuss work with officemates (40 minutes), coffee breaks (17 minutes), instant messaging (14 minutes), snack breaks (8 minutes), making food in the office (7 minutes), making calls (18 minutes), and searching for new jobs (26 minutes). (vouchercloud)
What is a 9/80 schedule?
The 9/80 schedule is a shift that begins every nine and a half days (i.e., Mondays and Fridays) and ends exactly ninety days from the start. This means that your employees will work their usual schedule for fifty-nine days, followed by a normal “vacation” week, and then another fifty-nine days of work. If you have decided to implement a 9/80 shift, it’s important that you communicate the schedule to all employees—especially those who will be affected by this shift. This schedule may seem confusing and inefficient; however, it’s a common shift schedule that helps businesses manage work hours more effectively.
When to use a 9/80 schedule
There are a few situations where a 9/80 shift may be a good fit for your company. For example, if you have seasonal employees who can only work a certain number of hours each week in order to avoid working during the off season, a 9/80 shift may be the perfect option. Another option is to use a 9/80 shift in larger companies with more than 250 employees. If there are certain departments that operate on different schedules, a 9/80 shift may be a good choice. For example, a 9/80 shift might work well in a marketing department, where employees are more likely to work on weekends. However, a 9/80 shift may not be an ideal option for an accounting department, where employees may find it difficult to understand their schedule.
How to implement a 9/80 shift
Before implementing a 9/80 shift, it’s important to understand how other employees will function within the new work schedule. You may conduct employee surveys, offer training sessions, and send memos to explain the new schedule. You may also have to adjust existing policies and procedures that are tied to the usual week. If you choose to implement a 9/80 shift, you’ll need to consider how the employees will be affected. After analyzing the pros and cons of a 9/80 shift, you’ll want to plan ahead to ensure that your employees are ready for the schedule change. You should begin by asking non-managerial employees how they feel about the shift. This can help you identify the areas of your company that may be uncomfortable with the shift. You may also want to survey managers about their opinions and concerns about the shift. This can help you identify areas where there may be confusion about the new schedule.
The advantages of a 9/80 shift
Efficient use of employees’ time
A 9/80 shift frees employees from traditional work schedules, allowing them to make their own schedules and decide when they want to work. While this freedom may be beneficial for some employees, it could also create problems for others who prefer a traditional nine-to-five work schedule. You can use the 9/80 shift to see how employees prefer to work and what works best for them.
Overriding departmental differences
A 9/80 shift allows you to adjust your business to meet the needs of all departments. For example, marketing and accounting may operate on different schedules, so a 9/80 shift gives you the flexibility to cater to both departments.
The disadvantages of a 9/80 shift
Confusion and disruption
A 9/80 shift may create confusion and disruption among employees. With no set schedule every day, some employees may have to adjust to working at any time of the day. Others may have to adjust to missing out on time off. – New work schedule for managers – A 9/80 shift is likely to be more challenging for managers who must manage the same amount of work with less time to get it done.
Lack of consistency
With no set schedule every day, some employees may be left wondering what they should do between what they would normally be doing. While this may be less of an issue in smaller companies, in larger organizations a lack of consistency may be confusing for employees who are used to a regular schedule.
Other considerations for implementing a 9/80 shift
Budget and HR
Another key consideration when implementing a 9/80 shift is how it will affect the budget and overall HR department. Consolidating the budget may be difficult because certain employees may rely on a certain budget amount. For example, a marketing employee who works on weekends may rely on budget funds for travel expenses.
Training
Another consideration when implementing a 9/80 shift is training. Employees who work at various times and places will likely require updated training materials to help them adjust to working in a different environment.
Salary adjustments
In most cases, the employees who will be affected by the 9/80 shift will be asked to take a cut in salary. If you plan to implement the shift, you should consider how this will affect the organization’s overall budget.
Shift in employee attitudes
Lastly, implementing a 9/80 shift may have an impact on employee attitudes and morale. With no set schedule every day, some employees may feel like they don’t have a purpose in the company and won’t stay long with the organization.