The Guide to a 9/80 Work Schedule: What It Is, How It Works, and Best Practices (2024)

If you’ve heard of the 9/80 work schedule, you may be curious about how it works and the potential benefits for employers and employees. The 9/80 work schedule is a variation of the traditional 8-hour, five-days-a-week workweek that gives the employee a better work-life balance and more control over their time while boosting productivity.

What Is a 9/80 Schedule?

A 9/80 work schedule allows employees to work nine hours daily but spread their 80-hour two-week period across four days instead of the usual five. This means employees work nine hours a day but get an extra day off every two weeks. This schedule is especially beneficial for employees looking for a better work-life balance and more control over their time.

How does a 9/80 work schedule operate?

As we mentioned before, a 9/80 work schedule consists of two-week periods in which employees work nine-hour days (for a total of 72 hours) and one eight-hour day, which adds up to 80 hours in two weeks.

Typically, organizations that choose a 9/80 work schedule break the week up into four nine-hour days and one eight-hour day made up of two four-hour periods. This allows employees to take a half day off every other week

Examples of a 9/80 Schedule

The following schedule is an example of how a 9/80 work schedule can be arranged:

How to run payroll for a 9/80 workweek?

Payroll for a 9/80 workweek is calculated just as it would be for any other work schedule. The main difference is that employers divide the eight-hour day into two four-hour periods, with the first period belonging to week one and the second belonging to week two.

Advantages of the 9/80 Workweek

The 9/80 work schedule provides a variety of advantages for employers and employees alike, including:

Increased Productivity

Working nine-hour days allows the employees to continue working for longer periods of time without disruption. This means less time spent transitioning from one task to the next and more time spent focusing on completing tasks.

Prospective staff

The 9/80 work schedule can help employers attract new employees who are looking for a better work-life balance and more control over their time. It can also help employers retain existing staff as they are able to work fewer days.

Easier Commutes

With the 9/80 schedule, employees have to commute fewer days, allowing them to save money on gas and tolls. This can be especially beneficial for employees who have long commutes or those who live far away from their workplace.

Decreased tardiness

The 9/80 work schedule can reduce employee tardiness because it allows them to avoid commuting during rush hour. Also, by having better control over their time, employees can plan their week more effectively, thus reducing their chances of being absent due to personal matters.

Work-Life Balance

While salary and benefits may be top priorities for many employees, work-life balance is also a major consideration. The 9/80 work schedule allows employees to enjoy three-day weekends every other week, allowing them to take care of their personal needs and spend more time with family and friends.

However, the 9/80 work schedule isn't suitable for every organization, and there are potential drawbacks to consider.

9/80 Workweek Disadvantages

The 9/80 work schedule isn't without its disadvantages. Here are some potential disadvantages to consider before implementing it in your organization.

Extensive Workday

Working 9 hours can be difficult for some employees, and depending on the type of work, it may become overwhelming. This can lead to fatigue, burnout, and stress.

Less Coverage for Small Businesses

Larger businesses may be able to cover the workload required for a 9/80 work schedule, but smaller businesses may struggle. With fewer staff available, it may be difficult to cover shifts and handle any emergencies that may arise

Abuse and Overtime

Sometimes employees can take advantage of the extra hours in a week and work more than 40 hours for which they can be paid overtime. This can raise labor costs for the company. So it's important to ensure that employees understand the rules and expectations of the 9/80 workweek and that there is proper monitoring in place to prevent abuse.

OnTheClock can help you track and manage employee hours and ensure that your employees are following the work schedule.

Decreased Productivity

Working an additional hour might affect the productivity of some employees, depending on the type of work they do. Studies have shown that productivity can decrease after 40 hours of work per week, so it is important for employers to be aware of this. Nevertheless, don’t let these challenges discourage you from implementing a 9/80 work schedule. With proper planning and management, you can ensure that it works for your workforce.

How to Know Whether It Fits Your Business

If you’re considering implementing a 9/80 work schedule, it’s important to evaluate your situation and determine if it’s right for you. Here are things you should consider before making the switch.

Operations and Workload

The 9/80 work schedule isn’t suitable for every business. Before making the switch, evaluate your workload and operations to determine if the 9/80 schedule is feasible. A good way to get started is by asking yourself questions to understand how the 9/80 work schedule will affect your business.

Questions to consider:

• What are your staff jobs and duties?
• How big is your staff?
• How many people do you need during the week?
• Do you need to hire additional staff to cover shifts?
• How will the 9/80 schedule affect their workload?

Resources

It is also important to consider the available resources and whether they are adequate for a 9/80 schedule. Ask yourself questions like:

• Do you have the necessary tools and systems to support the switch?
• Are your payroll, HR, and other departments prepared to manage the transition?
• Do you have enough personnel and skillsets to ensure the shift coverage matches demand?

By asking yourself questions like these, you can determine whether or not the 9/80 work schedule is right for your business. Ultimately, whatever decision you make should be

Your Staff

Talking to your staff about the 9/80 work schedule is an essential part of the process. You need to ensure that they are on board with the changes and understand how it will affect their work-life balance. Ask them for feedback, listen to their concerns, and incorporate their thoughts and ideas into your final decision.

By considering your resources, operations, and staff needs, you can make an informed decision about the 9/80 work schedule. It may not be right for every organization, but it can be a great way to boost morale and provide employees with some much-needed flexibility. Ultimately, the decision is up to you.

How to Implement a 9/80 Work Schedule in Your Office

If this is an option you think might work for you, the next step is to figure out how to implement it in your office. Here are the steps you should take to ensure a smooth transition.

1. Communicate the decision

First, you need to let your employees know about the decision to switch to a new shift schedule. This will help ensure they’re prepared for this change and give them a chance to ask any questions they may have.

2. Train managers

Your managers need to be well-versed in the new 9/80 work schedule. Ensure they understand how it will affect their team and have the resources and training to manage it properly. So it's essential to train your managers to create work schedules, manage time off requests, and deal with employees who call in sick.

3. Confirm team availability

As we mentioned before, one of the problems with implementing a 9/80 schedule is making sure you have enough employees available to cover all the shifts. So before finalizing the schedule, make sure you have sufficient team members available to cover all shifts.

4. Test the work schedule

Once you’ve created the work schedule, have your team try it out for a few weeks. This will give you a chance to see if there are any problems with the schedule and make sure it’s working as intended.

5. Evaluate the results

Take some time to evaluate the results of your 9/80 work schedule. Look into employee satisfaction, productivity, and absenteeism. If you’re happy with the results, you can implement the 9/80 work schedule permanently. If not, you can adjust the schedule until you find something that works for your organization.

How Can OnTheClock Help You Implement a 9/80 Work Schedule Effectively?

If you’ve decided to switch to the 9/80 work schedule, OnTheClock can help make it easier. Our scheduling software allows you to easily create and manage work schedules, so you don’t have to worry about manual scheduling errors or confusion over shift times. Plus, our time-tracking software lets you quickly and accurately track employee hours, making payroll easier than ever.