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Four Day Workweek Strikes A Chord With Readers

4 day work-week

IT Specialist
SSA
Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:25 AM

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I'm surprised OPM doesn't want this. Currently in a 5 day work-week it's 8.5 hours X 5 days = 42.5 hours - 5 hours for lunch (1 hour per day) = 37.5 'company' hours.
4 day work-week = 10.5 X 4 = 42 - 4 hours for lunch (1 hour per day) = 38 'company' hours. That's an extra 1/2 hour the employee works each week on a 4x10 hour week. In addition to that, the local policy here is you must use leave on holidays when your shift is in excess of 8 hours. So with 10 holidays per year the employee 'loses' 2 hours X 10 holidays = 20 hours of annual leave per year. Such a deal!

Re: 4 day work-week

fed
dod
Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:19 AM
I see some issues with your workday. If you work five 8.5 hour days, your lunch break should only be a half hour, not 1 hour. By law, total "company time" must be 40 hours/week (or 80 per pay period), regardless of how it's broken up (4 days or 5 days).

Re: 4 day work-week

Admin Asst
DOD
Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:49 AM
Who gets an hour for lunch? If you work 8.5 hours each day, you're only entitled to 30 mins for lunch. If you take 60, you're cheating the agency/command.

Re: 4 day work-week

Specialist
Federal Agency
Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:27 AM
I'm not sure about your math, but in my agency 1/2 hour for lunch means 1/2 hour for lunch unless you take leave or build more time into your schedule.

Re: 4 day work-week

usda
worker
Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:46 AM
if you are on a compressed schedule, (4 -10 hr days) and one of your normal workdays falls on a holiday, you should be getting the whole 10 hrs off as it is your normally scheduled workday. OPM regs. If you have to take the day off it would cosy you 10 hrs of leave

Re: 4 day work-week

HR Consultant
been there/done that
Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:48 PM
Uh, you're supposed to be working 40 hours a week. If you get a 1/2 hour unpaid lunch break that is what you're supposed to be taking, not an hour., whether it's on an 8-hour or 10-hour day. You might not want to highlight that extra 1/2 hour for lunch that you apparently are being permitted to take.

Re: 4 day work-week

Reformed Conservative
DFAS
Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:36 PM
I once worked at a command where you were required to take a 1-hour (unpaid) lunch. Not all commands are on the 1/2 hour lunch.

Re: 4 day work-week

IT Specialist
SSA
Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:06 AM
No one is cheating here. The policy actually is 1/2 hour lunch and two 1/4 hour breaks = 1 hour per day. Some have approval to use 1 hour for lunch with no breaks. Still is 1 hour per day.

Re: 4 day work-week

Ditch digger pretending to be an ER spec
DoD
Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:19 AM
There is no law or government-wide regulation requiring a lunch break or rest period [OSHA may mention these in some jobs]. An Agency may establish such through regulation or coleective bargaining, however.

OPM rules jump in and limit the taking of lunch breaks [if there are any] to no more than one hour under traditional work schedules. Under alternate work schedules, there are no such OPM limits.

Returning to the original post, it seems to me that an agency going to 4/10s would {in theory} get 30 minutes more work per week out of an employee because of the 8-15 minute breaks under 4/10 versus 10-15 minute breaks under a traditional 5/8 schedule.

Re: 4 day work-week

Watcher
Inner Sanctum
Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:20 AM
IT Specialist, SSA

Hope no one finds out about the scheme you all are working at the SSA because it is regulatory that breaks, lunch, do not mix.

You all are illegal.

At least the Interior Department got some ancillary sex out of their scheming.

Re: 4 day work-week

Management analyst
HUD
Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:02 AM
I personally have a life after work. If I had to work 10 hours days, I would never get to participate in anything or I would have to come in so early that I would have to go to bed when I got home!

Better for public

Contracts
Army
Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:30 AM

Post Reply

I think this would actually be an advantage for the general public. Did you ever have to deal with a federal agency and work?

For example, if you have to help a loved one with Social Security, you have to take off and go down there (They don't answer phones, and the 800 number is a joke). At least you would have a chance at going before/after work or on the day off.

Re: Better for public

Diversity Manager
DOL
Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:26 PM
What a great idea your co workers don't return phone calls so you have to make a visit. Wonder if they would do their job it would reduce the necessity for you and everyone else to make an appointment and go there.
Until a PFP is initiated for every Federal Employee 4 day work weeks compressed schedules and telework should be off the table.

Work Week

M & PA
FAA
Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:35 AM

Post Reply

Who says we have to work 40 hours a week?

How about a 4 day work week but only work 8 or 9 hours a day for the same pay. Ten hours a day at the office would kill me.

Re: Work Week

Budget Analyst
Garrison
Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:23 AM
Great idea. I've thought about how nice it would be to work four 8-hour days. I've worked the 10-hour days and it is hard to do. I usually ended up sleeping most of the day that I had off.

And, just think of the money the government would save if every employee worked less hours. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to lose 16 hours of pay. I just wish someone would offer it to me.

How Many Feds Will Work for 4 Days' Pay?

Fed
DoD
Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:42 AM

Post Reply

That's what most feds don't realize: being paid for EXACTLY the work you've done, 4 days' pay for 4 days' work. So what exactly have you saved?

Just b/c the govt tells you to stay home, doesn't mean they'll PAY you for the privilege.

Four Day Workweek Strikes A Chord With Readers

PROGRAM SPECIALIST
USDA
Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:54 AM

Post Reply

good job.

thanks for the information

Gas usage

Evaluation analyst
DOD
Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:00 AM

Post Reply

I think we should have mail delivered only three days a week. They postal service can work three 12 hour shifts one week and a four 12 hour shift the second week. That would save a bunch of gas.

I do not need junk mail every day.

hours

Atty
Executive Agency
Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:01 AM

Post Reply

Mandated 4/10s would be horrible. That effects too many people with childcare issues, elder care issues and the like. A 4/10 option could definitely be good for those who want. Personally I think Hoyer should be pushing telecommuting a lot more than 4/10s. That cuts down on gas even more and keeps productivity up.

Re: hours

Ditch digger pretending to be an and English professor
DoD
Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:22 AM
Seems to me an attorney would know the proper time to use "effects" and the proper time to use "affects".
Total Comments: 75
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