Compressed Work Week
A program designed to allow eligible full-time staff members to work longer scheduled days of work with the intent of working fewer than five (5) full work days in each week.
Examples:
- Employees establish a 40-hour work week by working four 10-hour days.
- “Summer hours”: Longer hours Monday through Thursday and shorter hours on Friday (often during summer vacation months)
Employees retain full pay and benefits
May reduce commuting time and costs
May reduce childcare and eldercare costs
Provides a low cost employee benefit
May enhance productivity, with fewer interruptions during atypical office hours
Employee may not be as productive working a longer day
Employee may not receive supervision at all hours
May create challenges related to hours of child & elder care availability
May cause under-staffing at times
How office coverage will be maintained
Definition of tasks when supervisor is absent
How to coordinate schedules and communication
Adapted from: Center for Work, Family and Personal Life, 2004. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, A Guide to Job Flexibility at MIT.
