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Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?

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Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?

#51

Post by blaser-waffle »

I did 4x10 at a previous job. I wouldn't say more got done, but the 3 day weekends were nice. The 10 hour days just dragged on, and productivity died after around hour 7. Since a big part of this was mostly just babysitting / being in the data center, that's not a huge deal. I read a lot of slashdot then. Dodging the traffic was nice too.

I don't know if I'd do it now, though. 9-5 with a reasonable commute isn't bad. I don't want to get home at 8 and "start my day" a couple hours before bedtime.

Would I take an 20% paycut? Nah.

Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?

#56

Post by zer0sand0nes »

uranium wrote: post #7

Yup. Did it. I'm so fortunate to have been able to afford it, and it's been awesome. When my first child was born, I dropped down to 3 days a week, at 60% pay/vesting/etc., but full medical (Google was awesome about it). After a few years, I moved to a new position that I felt really passionate about (Makani at Google[x]), and went up to 4 days a week to make that possible. After a few years there and the birth of an…

How does that work?

Do u have to build a large reputation in that company so that they let you do whatever you want?

Or do you apply for these 2 days a week jobs that offer medical and all that?

Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?

#57

Post by maerF0x0 »

kjaftaedi wrote: post #48
maerF0x0 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

True, this is an interesting concept. Maybe it's due to human preference, norms, or companies' ability to shift labor?

Japan has the salaryman that works much more than 40 hrs iirc.

Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?

#58

Post by Spooky23 »

aianus wrote: post #39

> 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…

No way. 150% overhead is the cost of a fully funded pensioned employee. It’s usually close to 130% of pay at a good company, and 120% at a shitty one.

Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?

#59

Post by llampx »

Blakestr wrote: post #19
bwb wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you ever want to do less than 40 hours, so 4 days of 8 hours for 32 hours a week?

40 hours has been historically used to determine full-time status (and full-time benefits) like health insurance. It's one of the reasons I think this schedule is so hard to get away from.

I've heard it's a weekly schedule above 32 hours a week

Re: Ask HN: Would you switch to a 4-day-a-week schedule if you could?

#60

Post by rcarmo »

Yes. I did that for a few months back when I was told I had to spend my vacation days or lose them (PTO was supposed to be convertible to cash under local law, but I didn't want the hassle).

So I took almost three months of Fridays off, and it was _by far_ the most productive and happy time I had - remote work and flex time was nice, but having a clear separation between work and personal time was even better.

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