The Four-Day Work Week – - It Might Actually Work
August 22, 2008 by Bridget Wright
Filed under Business
I work from home as a freelancer, and have been trying to get to the four-day work week for about a year now. No dice.
In order for me to get to that coveted four-day work week, I’d have to go up on my rates and work more hours of course during the other four days. With kids in school, activities and other outside family interests, it may not be possible to slide in extended days for the enjoyment of one extra day. But for the trade-off, I’m willing to give it a shot.
I figured I could work four nine hour days and still get the bulk of the work that I need done in that time to get that extra day. If I could get family and situations to be compliant with my idea, it should work. In theory, of course.
As a business person, do you think the four-hour work week is something viable for the type of business you’re in? Is there someone to take up the slack for you in case you can’t meet all of your deadlines or commitments? What would you do with the extra day off?
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Copyright 2008 – Bridget Wright
Maybe 4 hours a week is working for other people but for me, I need more than that because the number of business that I’ve owning now on the internet..
I think the 4-day work week completely do-able. I used to do it at govt job – so I can do it now. But my schedule is so wacky with a preschooler that I just go with the flow.
For me, it’s less about a 4-day “set” schedule. And more about how many hours in a week I work – no matter when those hours are.
And I know the calculations of what I need to bill hourly in order to make what I want to make in the amount of time I want to work.
If you do go for it – just make sure you use that extra day off wisely! Somehow for me it turned into an errand day – ick!
I don’t work full-time, but I work somewhat pretty much every day (7 days) of the week. For me it’s important to have chunks of family/kid time every day, so I work a lot at night, early in the am etc even on weekends. I think four days a week is do-able but such long days can be draining. Good luck!
I work from home as a business development consultant. I made three moves that has allowed me a 3 day week. 1. I read Women and Money… corny, I know, but some excellent advice about billable rates and billing what you deserve, 2. Up’d my rates and 3. Moved to a monthly retainer with fewer clients. I base it on an approximate number or hours. And I make them pay it in advance. Helps with cash flow too.
18 months and running under the new system… seems to work. I work 25 hours a week over 3 or 4 days and my bottom line is the same as when I was working 40 under the hourly-lower-rate system. I also like working at night personally. This gives me the freedom to work when I want as long as I meet with the clients regularly at their place of business. Plus, because I brought my hours down, I am actually able to overserve them. Win-win.
I personally think the 4 day work week is great. I have been an owner of my business for 5 years apx now and have done all sorts of schedules.
Currently I set my business hours as 9a.m-9p.m Mon-Thur. I work about 9 hours per day, please note I have a toddler and am expecting a new baby soon. In addition I take college classes to complete an MBA. So what I do besides try not to be stressed is simply work business Mon-Thur and College Work on Weekends.
I answer business calls all day–and work 3.5 hours at one time during afternoon (baby nap/rest time)–and work 4 hours at night–7:30pm-11:30pm apx (after baby goes to bed).
When my husband is home–I spend 1.5 hours doing light business activities like Reading Business Material…Creating Spreadsheets as needed etc..things that do not require heavy concentration–and usually this is done while baby is having her 1-2 hour educational tv programs.
Then Fri-Sunday I do pretty much what I want (of course around my family time) But I study 3-5 hours per day each day when baby is sleeping or playing alone. Normally I do not study or do any business work until after 11:00a.m daily–so that the mornings from 6a.m-11a.m is focused totally on the baby.
And then after 3pm daily is focused on baby until bed time.
**My husband and I spend time together each day during the afternoon with the baby–and of course we have the entire weekends–as I fit homework whenever I have a free time.
I hopes this helps.