Compressed Working Week Vs. Flextime

by Lisa Magloff
Compressed workweeks and flextime are becoming increasingly popular.

Compressed workweeks and flextime are becoming increasingly popular.

clock image by Christopher Hall from

Compressed workweeks and flextime are two options to the traditional 9 to 5 workweek that are becoming increasingly popular. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 1997 27.6 percent of full-time salaried workers were working some type of flexible work schedule. Before deciding which is best, consider the pros and cons of both options.

Compressed Time Benefits

In a compressed work schedule, a 40-hour workweek is compressed into four days instead of the usual five. This usually means four 10- to 12-hour workdays. Employees often prefer compressed work schedules because it means an extra day off each week and less commuting. This can save employees money in gasoline costs and reduce the stress of a long commute. Because employees have more free time, they tend to be healthier and take fewer sick days.

Energy Savings

Employers find that a compressed workweek can also save energy costs. In Utah all state employees now work a compressed four-day week. After the first 12 months, there was a 13 percent reduction in energy use, and employees saved as much as $6 million in gasoline costs, according to "Time" magazine. Some companies use a compressed work schedule that allows them stay open five days a week but with some employees off each day. Fewer employees in the office can mean a smaller office and more energy savings.

Customer Service

Another benefit to a compressed work schedule is that by staying open longer each day, businesses that provide customer service can offer longer opening hours and provide access to people who would otherwise have to miss work to get there. Utah found that the lines for many state services decreased considerably after it went to a compressed workweek, with services having longer hours open each day.


Flextime is a very popular program with many companies. For example, in Texas many of the state's largest employers, such as DuPont, Fannie Mae, Johnson & Johnson and Lincoln Financial, offer some time of flexible working program. With flextime, employees can vary their work schedules so they arrive or leave work at times other than the traditional 9 to 5. Flextime may also involve mixing telecommuting with office work and job sharing.

Types of Flextime

Flextime schemes vary. Employees may work fewer hours on one day and make them up the next, or they may be allowed to work any hours they like as long as the work gets done. One popular option is to require employees to be in the office for a core time, such as 10 to 2, but free to start and finish at different times. Another option allows employees to work one extra hour each day and then take one afternoon off. Some schemes allow employees to work some of their hours from home.

Flextime Benefits

Flextime is especially useful for parents with young children, because it allows them to work around school schedules and to take time off as needed for emergencies. Flextime also allows employees to commute at off-peak hours, saving them time and money in gasoline. For employers, flextime allows them to retain employees who might otherwise have to quit work to meet family obligations. With less pressure to choose between work and family, workers are happier and more loyal and can be more productive.

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