How did you negotiate a shortened workweek schedule?

Re: How did you negotiate a shortened workweek schedule?

• KandM05

  March 2010

  the only think i thought of was the trial period, like you mentioned.  I think thats a great idea, then you can BOTH see how you like the new schedule.

   I work a reduced hour schedule too. I have off fridays and work half day on thursdays.  I didnt really 'negotiate' it though, i just asked me boss and luckly he was OK with it. Eventually I hope to go to a 40 hour week, working monday-thursday.

   Good Luck!

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• qw23fv09ij87tf23

  March 2010

  My office is flexible so there was no problem with me working M-TH. We have an office assistant that is also my back up that can take care of emergencies while I am gone. I am also available on Fridays if I am needed. If your workload does not permit you to work a shorten week then I would be concerned too if I was your boss. A trial period is all I can think of also. That will be one way to prove that you can still get the work done. GL!

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• xtencornfield member

  March 2010

  Well, my situation is a little different since I'll work M-Th for 9 hours/day and 1.5 hours from home on F mornings giving me my fulltime 37.5 hours (that's what we work).  So, I'm still putting in the same amount of time. 

  I secured my flex schedule by writing up a proposal (after I talked to my manager) outlining my new schedule and laying out my reasoning for how and why I would still be able to complete my work on a flexible schedule.  I provided concrete examples.  5 hours is a lot to cut out of your work week, so I would really work to create a solid proposal with specific examples.

  
  

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• RoxyLynn member

  March 2010

  abrausen:

  My boss is concerned about dropping the 5 hours on Friday.  I have told her I would be available via cell phone if any emergencies come up and would be able to check email once or twice per day on Fridays. 

  She is concerned I wouldn't be able to complete all of my projects.  Any ideas on how to negotiate and prove to her I can? 

  Basically your question is, "How can I do 40 hours of work in 35 hours?"  From a management perspective, either you haven't been giving work your full attention and have dragged out projects OR youv'e had an insufficient amount of work for some time.

  That's what you need to address.  Who does the work that falls off your schedule?  Answer that question, and your proposal is 90% written.

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• JustBrauzin

  March 2010

  I should have added we brought in two new FT resources to help with my workload. The projects they are taking over will make this possible.  My boss has approved the shortened work week, for a 60 day trial period

  

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• mom2anangel member

  March 2010

  It looks like you got it worked out, great!  I hope it works out.  I just thought I would comment that I wrote up a proposal and also suggested a trial period - almost a year later I'm still doing my "modified" schedule and it's as if I've always done this.  I'm hoping after our next baby comes that I can go part time but as of now that has not been an option.  We are probably moving before the end of summer and will live closer to by mine and my husbands office so that will help.  I work 38 hours still but I leave at 3 three days a week and work through my lunch on my short days.  It was hard for me to justify working less as my workload did not lighten up but I just work really hard when I'm here and have projects - of course that's not every day and those are the days I can "bump" more.  GL to you!

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