Compressed Working Weeks.

[mazdajason]

After receiving some promising phone calls today about potential jobs, I was sent through a scope of works about the job I would be doing. One of the companies works a compressed working work so that you get 1 friday off a month and make up the hours during the other 3 weeks.
Is this becoming common practice at some workplaces nowadays as it sounds really good and something I would be very interested in. Or is it only certain types of companies as obviously not all can do it.

Thoughts?

[Robb F]

You can do it where I work, as long as you do the hours required per week there is no need for you to be there

[Mattt]

My last place I used to do similar, as I was working away from home I would do all my billable hours in 4 days and then 'be contactable' on a Friday.

Not contractual though, informal arrangement.

New place is the opposite, do all my contractual hours in 4.5 days but end up doing 6

[mazdajason]

Sounds like a winner then!
My current work do it too, but as I'm a contractor I can't do it - need to be there all week.
Cheers for your input guys.

[MartinQ]

We work a nine day fortnight at my place, but do an average of 37 hrs per week. It's works well for me as it's effectively a free day to come in and get some overtime in!

[rog007]

Many roles, but not all, do have the ability to be flexible. Employers do it for many reasons too; staff morale; road safety; efficiencies; resilience etc, etc. The notion of office based employees all commuting to a single office every day to conduct their business is also being challenged. With improved means of communicating cheaply from home, why does everyone need to be in the office everyday? Of course some do, and some may need to be there every day, but not everyone all of the time.

[MR Kirbyz]

A few friends of mine from day release in college (hnc) who work for BAE do this. Work 7-5 Monday-Thursday and then have Friday off, although this is the whole company and not a choice

[rog007]

MR Kirbyz said:

A few friends of mine from day release in college (hnc) who work for BAE do this. Work 7-5 Monday-Thursday and then have Friday off, although this is the whole company and not a choice

Not the best company to highlight the example with...they may be at home a little longer from now on, sadly.