Flexible Work Arrangements: Compressed Workweeks

Compressed Workweeks are useful when there is a significant investment in equipment or a shortage of space, or when the employee works best employing significant concentrations of effort during extended periods of time.

Examples:

• The department has extremely expensive equipment which it needs to use round-the-clock for greatest return on investment.
• The employee has a weekend retreat in the mountains, so prefers to have intense periods of work followed by long weekends.
• Two parents are sharing childcare responsibilities by each working three or four days of the week, with different days off.
• The department has a space crunch and needs to have two people share an office, yet both work best when they are alone. By compressing both schedules, they can each be present when the other is away.

Other considerations:

• Just as for alternate workweeks, compressed workweeks can maximize use of space and equipment while minimizing traffic and parking problems - but adequate safety and supervision need to be ensured when people are working alone or with few other people are around.
• Not everyone has the stamina to work very long shifts. Productivity and stress should be taken into account.
• Use of sick leave and other leave is sometimes reduced with compressed workweeks, because employees often tend to medical appointments and personal business on their day off.
• Compressed workweeks can help employees further their education by creating blocks of time for attending classes and doing research.