I've been thinking about changing my schedule. I currently work the 5/4/9 schedule. For those of you not familiar with this, it means that I work 5 days (4 9-hr days + 1 8-hr day) one week and then 4 days (all 9-hr days) the following week so that I can have one day off during that two week period. It still comes out to 80 hours per pay period. I find myself working through my lunch breaks a lot lately so I've actually been working 9.5 hr days.
One of my coworker's works straight 10 hour days (meaning she does not take a lunch break) and has every Monday off. She is also a working mom and LOVES her schedule. I would only have to put in an additional 30 mins. per day and continue to skip my lunch breaks in order to get a day off every week. I would come in a half hr. early (which I've done in the past so I have a feel for that schedule) and since my hubby takes the girls to childcare it wouldn't disrupt anything. I would also be able to take every Friday off, yeah! So 3-day weekends EVERY weekend.
So I would love to hear from other mothers out there who have worked this type of schedule, did you enjoy it? I would esp. love to hear from anyone who switched from a 5/49 to the 4-10's.
BTW, I work in an office so I wouldn't be on my feet all day long.
Just to claify as someone said she was confused: I do get one day off every-other week. This would allow me one day off EVERY week.
I guess I'm just wondering if it would be worth always skipping my lunch break and coming in early to get the extra day off. I'm looking to improve my work-family balance a bit more.
About the lunch break thing and the legal side of it, we have a few employees doing this and it was approved through the proper channels. They ran it through the union, legal, etc.
My step-father watches my girls & I've already dicussed it with him. He will not be working any additonal hours as my husband will still be taking them and I'll still be picking them up at the same time. He'll get one extra day to himself so he is 100% on board. The whole point is for me to spend more time with them not less.
Just to respond to the poster that said it is unlawful not to give a lunch break so it is not feasible to not take one. That is false. It is the law that a lunch break has to be offered but the employee can sign a waiver not to take one. Like I previously mentioned it has been thorougly researched by our agency. We're a Federal agency so maybe that's why we're allowed this loophole, IDK. But I have read online that others skip lunch breaks too and get credit for working through them.
Thanks to everyone for your help! I love the different view points. I love the idea of just doing this schedule in the summer. That had crossed my mind as well but I don't think my ageny would allow it b/c I think someone would try and snatch my EVERY Friday off if I let go of the schedule during the summer time. But it is something to think about.
Thanks again :0)
I did 4 10's for a while but went back to 5 8's. I do community theater and had no time to go home before going to the theater.
I work the same schedule as you and I LOVE it. The off day every other week gives me some "me" time that I would never get otherwise. I could not do the 4 10's since my work commute wouldn't allow me to meet the daycare pick-up schedule.
My husband was working 4-10s every week on the night shift. It was great for us as a family because he would take Mondays or Fridays off and we'd spend that day together just the two of us, or as a family if the kids had the day off.
Hubby loved it as did I. (He's just switched to 5 days a week and is working more hours to meet deadlines.)
O. thing I wanted to mention is that you need to check your state laws about mandatory meal breaks. Your 10 hours might very possibly end up being 10.5 Just a head's up.
i don't sorry, but my mom does and always has. LOVES it. and since i have been an adult i have wished many times for this kind of schedule. i would gladly work longer per day to get an entire day off! if it works with your childcare situation i say go for it and enjoy! merry christmas!
I used to work 5 10-hour days and LOOOOVED IT!!
Hello overtime!
I change my hours during the summer to work 4-10 hour days. I take off every Friday to do something with my kids. I love it. We would either spend the day at Six Flags or spend the day at the pool. It helped me get over the "guilty mom syndrom" that I have for being a working mom. I love that special day with just my kids every week.
My husband was working 5 days a week and switched to 4-10's a couple years ago. He really likes it. We all like it. He has Saturday, Sunday and Mondays off each week.
I work five eights during the school year, well sort of, I actually work two six, two ten and an eight. I have my kids Monday and Tuesday so by doing that schedule I can kick them to the curb and be there when the bus gets home on the days I have them. During the summer I work four tens, taking Monday or Tuesday off depending on when I need to be there.
I work in an office. I am not sure what you want to know mind you. I can, thankfully, change my schedule at will. I have also worked three 12s and taken both days with my kids off and played stay at home. :)
I worded 4-10 for a couple of years and loved it. I did work an evening shift which does make a difference. I found that I couldn't plan to do much during the 4 days I worked. However, I don't see 10 hours as being much different than 9.5 hours. You already know what you can get done.
I'm not sure that I understand your schedule. It sounds like you'd have more useable time off working 4-10.
We have several people in our office that do this. They love it.
Its a law that you have to get a 30min break during the day. So skipping on lunch everyday isn't feasible. I've done it for a period of time while working on a project and it gets old quick.
So you can either add 30min to the front and 30min to the back or 1 whole hour to the front or back. For me, its easier to do the split time so that you are only home 30 mins later than usual. They only downside to this is that if Monday isn't your day off, then when you have holiday's on Monday, then you either have to take vacation leave for the extra 2 hours or make them up the other 3 days.
Good luck.
M.
I loved and adored 4 10's. 3 day weekends are the BEST.
How we set it up back when was my day, his day, family day. The "my/his" days were each of us got to sleep until we woke up, make plans to be out and about (meeting friends, taking a class, a sport, whatever). It was the other person's 1:1 day with our kiddo.
I use to work 4 ten hour days and I loved it. My day off was Wednesday which worked out great. I use to do all my errands and schedule any appointments on Wednesdays. I could also combine pto days using Monday and Tuesday to have very long weekends only working Thursday and Friday.
I worked 9's, then switched to 10's and now back to 9's. However, I am not allowed to skip lunch. I do miss my 10 hour shifts!
Here's my only caution. If you choose to do this, your daycare will still be working the 40 hours plus drive time. I know you haven't said anything about docking their pay. But I would also hope that you would not bring your kids to them on Friday and expect that day to be yours. Believe me when I say, most parents absolutely feel that a provider owes them 55-65 and sometimes even 70 hours per week without a dime extra to show for it.
I wish I had parents that worked this shift. Most of my kids are left longer and longer days the longer the parents are with me and it's hard enough to get the basic weekly out of them. I wouldn't dare raise their rates because they are using me longer and longer. Most providers are not nearly as nice as I am though LOL!
My husband LOVED the ten hour days but they changed back to eight hours and isn't happy at all but what can you do?
It sure made my week a lot easier having him home an extra day.
My husband used to work 4 10 hour days and we often talk about how we would like that option to be on the table whenever there are changes at work.
I think part of why we liked it is because out commute is long and we work a lot of nights, so even a regular 8 hour day kind of blows the whole day.
I don't think it would work for everyone, can you get a trail period to see if it works for you?
right now my husband is at work 10.5 hours a day ( he gets a half hour break, unpaid and three 10 min paid breaks). He works m-th and has every fri, sat, sun off. He loves his schedule, the kids and I love him being home for the 3 days.
None of us would change it.
My mom did it during the summers (that was when her company offered it). She LOVED it.
