1 yes, because I can have a long weekend for side projects.
2 maybe. I don’t want to climb the corporate ladder. I want to start a business. I need free time to polish my skills on that front.
But I prefer 4*10 hours
Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
41–50 of 66 posts
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#42Absolutely on both accounts. I've been taking Fridays off the past few weeks and LOVE it. I have so many personal projects; having 50% more free days each week gives me so much more time to pursue them (in addition to the normal house, social, and family maintenance that typically fill up weekends).
20% off current comp also means I'm still comfortably middle-class. So it would be a huge net gain to my quality of life. (If I didn't have a software engineer's salary I would not be saying that!)
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#43> Would you do it if it also meant you made 80% of your current comp? Why or why not? That would not be a fair discount because the number you see on your paycheck is not the full amount the company is paying to employ you. They also pay for benefits, payroll taxes, equipment, office space, management overhead, etc. The all-in cost of an employee is closer to 150% of the number on your W2. So assuming your output goe…
That is not correct and I want to make sure you get the correct info. One of the larger companies I ran was 130+ people operating in about 12 states. The companies average tax rate on an employee's salary is ~20% depending on the state (~18% to ~22% depending).
So 20% on the salary. *And, that amount goes down relative to salary changes.
After that, if the company is paying for 100% of health care that can have a big impact of course but I wouldn't roll that into this.
Equipment, office space, overhead is separate from salary. I do not suggest bundling those together as it creates a false view of the costs of these type of decisions.
I understand what you are trying to say but I think it is not how I would look at it with my CFO hat on.
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#44On my last job instead of a raise, I asked to switch to 90% with the same pay and got it, that was awesome.
On my current job, I work 80% because we have a daughter now and like the extra day with her. I also work from home, which adds more time for her on working days.
I think right now, the most important thing I can do is spend time with my kid, soon kids ;) It is only a couple of years until they also start going to kindergarten and school and also have a schedule.
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#45[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#46Absolutely. when I cannot, I long for 10/80
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#471. Yes. Actually switched to 3 days. Company was fine with it as my other option was resignation. I'd gained a valuable amount of knowledge, enough for them to keep me on.
2. I made 60% of my previous salary but I'm fortunate enough that this covered living expenses. The 2 additional days off made me richer than any raise could.
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
Then we change labor law. It really is that simple (and how we are currently at a 40 hour work week).
Until at will employment is undermined it will be hard to enforce. An employer just wont hire/retain <40 hrs & 5 day employees?
At-will employment is largely a US concept.
The rest of the developed world does not have such things, yet 40 hour work weeks are still commonplace.
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#491. Yes I totally would love it and think all Americans should go to a 10-hour, 4-day work week. Two days off is not enough. The Europeans have far more vacation time than us. What's disheartening is that we spend more days at work than not - at least this would even the playing field a little. It feels like your whole life is there then. I would be in favor of someone starting a movement to change this across the U.S…
For anything creative or intellectual ten hours makes no sense at all, those extra two hours at the end of the day will be the least productive.
Americans should have more days off but not by squeezing the existing work into a shorter period.
Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?
#50Yes.
I already sorta do. My current schedule is nine longer days, with the tenth day off. I work enough time in the first nine days to make up for the tenth day.
It's not exactly the same as a four-day work week though. I would jump on that in a heartbeat.
I immediately noticed an improvement to my overall happiness when switching to my current work schedule.