4 ms·

My utopian society workweek is 4 days/8 hours. That extra day off would do far more for people than one or two less hours every day. So 4x8=32 hours, vs 6x5=30

My utopian society workweek is 4 days/8 hours. That extra day off would do far more for people than one or two less hours every day. So 4x8=32 hours, vs 6x5=30 hours. I would even bargain for 4 days/9 hours, or 4x9=36 hours. That third day is huge. It's the difference from having only enough time for some leisurely weekend activities, to having enough time to take a mini-3-day-vacation every week (short flights, etc.).

alkonaut 10y ago
I'd much rather do 5x6h, I suppose the difference might be if you have small children.
- mason240 10y ago
  I agree. I preferred working 4x10 or even 4x12 before having kids (while working flexible resturant shift work). Now that I have kids and work an office job, I would much prefer a 5x6 to a 4x8.
  - imesh 10y ago
    With kids I prefer 4x8 to 5x6 but my wife wouldn't.
    - executesorder66 10y ago
      > but my wife wouldn't. Why not? You'd get to spend more contiguous time together.
      - sn0v 10y ago
        Maybe she doesn't get to work 4 days a week? I could see that cutting into their together time on weekdays.
        executesorder66 10y ago
        Good point. I didn't think of that. Thanks.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- ArlenBales 10y ago
  You're probably right, if I did have kids I would prefer 5x6h until I shed that responsibility (they leave the house once adults). But as someone without kids, being able to take short flights or trips every week over 3 days would be awesome. I guess ideally, since 5x6h and 4x8h are only two hours apart, a utopian workplace would offer its employees either option -- the people who chose 4x8h would make 2h more wages weekly.
  - alkonaut 10y ago
    I do 40 flexible hours already, so I do a couple of hours in the evening or on the weekend, just to get a 6-7h typical day, to fit the schedule with school pickup etc. If I wanted, I could work 4x10 (With some sweet talking to a manager perhaps). I'd very much prefer to have 30, 32 or 35h to distribute over the week though, it would make the planning a lot easier. In that case I'd do e.g. 5x6 now that my small children needs early pickup, but I'd go to 4x8 when I have larger children who can bike home from school, so we can go on a weekend trip with friday off.
  - kodt 10y ago
    Having a 4 day work week would mean one day off without kids (they are in school/sitter/day-care) which would be great and would give you tons more freedom just to get things done. Either chores around the house, need to take the car to the shop, visit the DMV, any number of things that are extremely difficult and busy on a Saturday with kids. Of course, if everyone works 4 days a week and has the same 5th day off that advantage goes away I suppose.
marxama 10y ago
Agreed. Especially when taking commuting into account - for me, one day off means 2 hours less commuting. During the past year, I've actually started trying this out. I've taken a couple of my vacation weeks and spread them out - instead of taking one week vacation, I've taken Fridays off for five weeks. It's been amazing. Somehow it feels like that extra day counts twice: your weekend gets one day longer, and your work week gets one day shorter!
halflings 10y ago
I guess it makes less sense for a business though: you're probably less productive the longer you work on a same day, and most businesses will still have to work according to the traditional Mon-Fri schedule. 6 hours per day over 5 days might be the right balance.
kirrent 10y ago
A large part of the reason I took the job I'm currently working at is the slightly shorter work hours combined with flexible work hours means that I can put in a bit less than two hours extra for four days and take the fifth one off. Do that on both sides of the weekend and your mini 3 day holiday becomes one where you get waaay more time at your destination and more than the travel time even if you're spending a large part of a day at each end travelling.
Steeeve 10y ago
Hmph. Mine is 2 days / 18-20 hours per day.
mcntsh 10y ago
Currently working at a digital agency doing 4x8 (32 hours). It works really well for us and the extra day really does make a huge difference with work/life balance. Really huge. It does mean the week is more compacted and there's less time spent "twirling your thumbs", but it's a much better schedule over all and we continue to produce great work.

alkonaut 10y ago

I'd much rather do 5x6h, I suppose the difference might be if you have small children.

mason240 10y ago
I agree. I preferred working 4x10 or even 4x12 before having kids (while working flexible resturant shift work). Now that I have kids and work an office job, I would much prefer a 5x6 to a 4x8.
- imesh 10y ago
  With kids I prefer 4x8 to 5x6 but my wife wouldn't.
  - executesorder66 10y ago
    > but my wife wouldn't. Why not? You'd get to spend more contiguous time together.
    - sn0v 10y ago
      Maybe she doesn't get to work 4 days a week? I could see that cutting into their together time on weekdays.
      - executesorder66 10y ago
        Good point. I didn't think of that. Thanks.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
ArlenBales 10y ago
You're probably right, if I did have kids I would prefer 5x6h until I shed that responsibility (they leave the house once adults). But as someone without kids, being able to take short flights or trips every week over 3 days would be awesome. I guess ideally, since 5x6h and 4x8h are only two hours apart, a utopian workplace would offer its employees either option -- the people who chose 4x8h would make 2h more wages weekly.
- alkonaut 10y ago
  I do 40 flexible hours already, so I do a couple of hours in the evening or on the weekend, just to get a 6-7h typical day, to fit the schedule with school pickup etc. If I wanted, I could work 4x10 (With some sweet talking to a manager perhaps). I'd very much prefer to have 30, 32 or 35h to distribute over the week though, it would make the planning a lot easier. In that case I'd do e.g. 5x6 now that my small children needs early pickup, but I'd go to 4x8 when I have larger children who can bike home from school, so we can go on a weekend trip with friday off.
- kodt 10y ago
  Having a 4 day work week would mean one day off without kids (they are in school/sitter/day-care) which would be great and would give you tons more freedom just to get things done. Either chores around the house, need to take the car to the shop, visit the DMV, any number of things that are extremely difficult and busy on a Saturday with kids. Of course, if everyone works 4 days a week and has the same 5th day off that advantage goes away I suppose.

marxama 10y ago

Agreed. Especially when taking commuting into account - for me, one day off means 2 hours less commuting. During the past year, I've actually started trying this out. I've taken a couple of my vacation weeks and spread them out - instead of taking one week vacation, I've taken Fridays off for five weeks. It's been amazing. Somehow it feels like that extra day counts twice: your weekend gets one day longer, and your work week gets one day shorter!

halflings 10y ago

I guess it makes less sense for a business though: you're probably less productive the longer you work on a same day, and most businesses will still have to work according to the traditional Mon-Fri schedule. 6 hours per day over 5 days might be the right balance.

kirrent 10y ago

A large part of the reason I took the job I'm currently working at is the slightly shorter work hours combined with flexible work hours means that I can put in a bit less than two hours extra for four days and take the fifth one off. Do that on both sides of the weekend and your mini 3 day holiday becomes one where you get waaay more time at your destination and more than the travel time even if you're spending a large part of a day at each end travelling.

Steeeve 10y ago

Hmph. Mine is 2 days / 18-20 hours per day.

mcntsh 10y ago

Currently working at a digital agency doing 4x8 (32 hours). It works really well for us and the extra day really does make a huge difference with work/life balance. Really huge. It does mean the week is more compacted and there's less time spent "twirling your thumbs", but it's a much better schedule over all and we continue to produce great work.