You’ve heard of the 4-day workweek proposal, which recently passed initial trials in the UK and other countries. Now get ready to hear about the newly-proposed 9-day fortnight.
This new proposed workweek model aims to provide greater flexibility to employees without increasing the pressure on them to produce more in less days or cutting down their salaries.
That said, how does a 9-day fortnight work? How do you calculate your work hours in this setup? What are its pros and cons? And how do the 9-day fortnight and 4-day workweek compare with each other?
Let’s find out.
What is the 9-day Fortnight?
The 9-day fortnight, also known as 9 DF, is a form of compressed work hours allowing employees to work over a shorter number of days.
So instead of working ten days for two weeks, workers only need to work nine days in two weeks, hence the name. This means that your second Friday is a free day.
To achieve this, some companies require employees to work an extra thirty minutes to one hour during the nine workdays to make up for the tenth day.
Other employers, however, are okay with reducing their employees’ work hours and paying the same salary as long as their productivity remains the same.
What are the Pros and Cons of a 9-day Fortnight Setup?
Like the 4-day workweek, the 9-day fortnight setup comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of a 9-day Fortnight Setup.
Let’s start with the advantages that a 9-day fortnight brings us workers. These are:
Employees Get an Extra Day-off Every Second Friday of the Month.
The most apparent advantage of shifting to a 9-day fortnight is that one extra day of rest and leisure.
Sure, having an extra day off every two weeks doesn’t seem much at first glance. But these free days stack up and give you an additional twenty-six free days in one year.
It Improves Your Work-Life Balance.
The next most obvious benefit is helping employees achieve a better balance between work and their responsibilities at home. Now, you have more time to spend with your friends and family, indulge in your hobbies, or just get more time to sleep. These, in turn, help you destress from work and improve your overall mental health.
It Increases Your Productivity.
Another benefit of having fewer workdays is it improves your job satisfaction. And when you’re happy with your job, you’ll be more motivated to work harder.
Take More Day Offs Without Any Salary Reductions.
One of the main concerns of employees participating in new work setups like the 4-day work week is the possibility of a pay cut.
But since you’re still working on the same number of contracted work hours in a 9-day fortnight setup, you don’t have to worry about that at all.
The Cons of Working in a 9-day Fortnight Setup.
Just like any work setup, the 9-day fortnight comes with some disadvantages. These are:
You’ll Have to Work Longer Hours Now.
One of the main downsides of a compressed setup like the 9-day fortnight is requiring you to render more work hours during work days. This ensures that employees continue to work the contracted hours despite only having to work for nine days.
That said, the increase in work hours to adjust for only working for nine days isn’t that big. Usually, you’ll now have to work an extra thirty minutes to one hour per workday.
Not All Jobs Suit This Work Setup.
Some jobs, such as customer service, are incompatible with a 9-day fortnight. These jobs often require someone to be available to meet new customers and answer customer queries. Thus, having a shortened work schedule can be problematic for them.
Finding a Job That Has This Setup Can Be Difficult.
Although the 9-day fortnight is beginning to take off, many companies still stick to a traditional work schedule. Thus, if you’ve worked previously with a company that uses this setup, finding a new company that does the same can be challenging.
And unless you have a vital skill the company needs, negotiating with your interviewers to allow you to work in a similar setup will be hard.
Prepare for an Increased Workload.
Of course, working on a compressed schedule means having more tasks and tighter deadlines than before. This means you’ll often be more tired after work in this setup- unless you’re well-organized or are excellent at multitasking.
What’s the Difference Between the 9-day Fortnight and 4-day Workweek Setups?
In many ways, the 9-day fortnight and the 4-day workweek are very similar. The main difference is that the latter reduces employee work hours from forty to thirty-two. The former merely compresses employee work hours to nine days while retaining the typical forty.
Is This Setup Worth Following?
Overall, the 9-day fortnight is a good compromise between reducing employee workdays while retaining their required work hours. It allows employees to have an extra day off every two weeks with no loss of salary. Now, employees can have more time to enjoy with their loved ones or do the things they love.
However, since this setup only compresses your work hours, it comes with the downside of increasing your workload during the assigned workdays. In addition, some jobs, such as customer service ones, aren’t suitable for this setup.
Is it worth trying out in your company? Definitely.
If your company wants to improve employees’ work-life balance without sacrificing work hours, then this setup could be a game-changer.
Why Work for Ten Days When You Can Work for Just Nine?
Another benefit that the shift to a remote setup has brought workers is the possibility of more flexible work schedules. First, it was the 4-day workweek; now, it’s the 9-day fortnight setup.
This setup reduces employee workdays to just nine while keeping their required work hours, allowing employees to retain their salaries.
So if your company is looking for a setup that has the benefit of the 4-day workweek while reducing the chances of a pay cut, this could be a good alternative.
If you’re still looking for online job opportunities that offer more flexibility, Remote Staff is here to help. Our jobs list has a wide range of positions and schedules for you to choose from, so you’ll never run out of options. Good luck!
