What is an alternative work schedule?

In a traditional schedule, employees work a 40-hour workweek, typically Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. An alternative work schedule is any arrangement that differs from a standard 9-to-5 schedule.

For example, you might use an alternative work schedule to provide customer service during evening hours, or you could implement flextime, which allows employees to choose their start and end times.

Benefits of flexible scheduling

Offering alternative work schedules can make recruiting easier. Employees generally appreciate the ability to start or finish work earlier or shift hours to have an extra day off. They can have more control of their time and organize workdays to accommodate personal needs.

By allowing staff to work at their preferred times, AWS schedules can help increase focus, energy and creativity, translating into more efficiency for your business.

Types of alternate work week schedules

Compressed workweek

Consider introducing a compressed schedule to give your employees a four-day workweek without changing the total hours worked. This model distributes the hours worked across fewer days and can be applied in one- or two-week intervals. For example, you might offer your staff these options:

• One compressed week: Instead of working 40 hours over five days, employees can work 10 hours a day for four days and take the fifth day off.
• Two compressed weeks: Instead of working 80 hours over 10 days, employees may spread the hours over nine days and take a day off every other week.

Condensed workweeks are often effective for long projects because employees may find it easier to stay focused for longer periods when they have fewer workdays per week.

Flextime

Flexible scheduling, or flextime, allows employees to adjust when they begin and end their workday. Staff can adjust their start times to avoid commuting during peak traffic or to accommodate personal appointments.

Job sharing

With job sharing, two employees work in one full-time position and share responsibilities. One person may work three days each week, while the other works two. The salary is divided based on the hours worked.

This schedule allows you to retain employees seeking part-time work while ensuring full-time coverage.

Asynchronous schedules

When using asynchronous scheduling, employees create their own schedules regardless of their colleagues’ workdays. This type of AWS is well-suited for roles that require a lot of independent work.

While employees have flexibility, they may still need to attend specific meetings or respond to communications within defined timeframes.

Implementing alternative work schedules

To find the best alternative work schedule for your business, evaluate your needs and organizational culture. You can then determine the model that enhances employee satisfaction while remaining competitive.

1. Consider the impact

When considering an alternative work schedule, evaluate your business needs. Assess the reasons for the change and its potential effects on workloads, customer service, collaboration, mentorship and training.

Determine which roles can shift to an alternative work schedule while supporting your organization’s goals. Be aware of any potential costs related to administration, scheduling and time-tracking software.

2. Establish guidelines

Before offering the new schedules, ensure employees understand when they are expected to be available, where they have flexibility and how their performance is assessed. For smoother implementation, consider updating policies for attendance tracking, reporting procedures and communications.

3. Equip your team for success

Help your staff stay connected, even when they work different schedules. Use project management platforms to track the status of various tasks or organize regular check-in meetings and team-building activities to encourage collaboration and communication.

FAQs about alternative work schedules

Why is a 9-to-5 schedule considered standard?

In 1926, the Ford Motor Company introduced a 40-hour workweek for its factory workers to improve working conditions. Employees were paid for an eight-hour workday, five days a week. Other companies adopted this model, and a 9-to-5 schedule became the standard for many industries, especially for office-based jobs.

How do I know if an alternative work schedule works for my business?

Carefully review your organizational needs and consider the impact of an employee’s absence at different times of the workday. Ensure you have adequate staff coverage to meet your business goals and a framework for maintaining information flow between team members. You might implement the new work schedule on a trial basis to assess its impact.

Is remote work a type of alternative work schedule?

Remote or hybrid work is a type of flexible work arrangement. A remote employee may follow a traditional 9-to-5 schedule, but they work from home.