The 9/80 Work Schedule - Could It Work For You?

“Working 9-to-5” isn't just a fun song. It has been the mainstay of white-collar office work for the last several decades. The advantage of a fixed work schedule has been that it has allowed workers to organize their lives around a commonly instituted time frame.

But in recent years, many employees are placing a much higher priority on a better work-life balance. As companies explore alternative working arrangements, the 9/80 work schedule has recently become quite popular. Its advocates say it improves motivation and boosts employee satisfaction. So what is it, and could it work for you?

What is a 9/80 work schedule?

The term “9/80” stands for “9 days / 80 hours.” This is opposed to the traditional “5/40” structure that organizes schedules as single work weeks of “5 days / 40 hours.” The 9/80 work schedule is organized in a two-week frame. The idea behind this work schedule is to compress the same number of work hours – 80 hours – into nine days rather than ten. The result is that employees receive an extra day off work every two weeks.

How does a 9/80 work schedule even work?

A 9/80 work schedule considers a two-week period as a single unit and splits up the work days into a sequence of eight 9-hour days and one 8-hour day.

For example, that could mean working the first week with nine-hour work days from Monday through Thursday and an eight-hour day that Friday. In the second week, then, Monday through Thursday would again be nine-hour workdays. The second Friday, however, would be a day off. The 80-hour requirement would have been met on Thursday.

There are, of course, a variety of options and possible breakdowns. But that's one of the most common versions of the 9/80 work schedule.

Example of a 9/80 work schedule

Why is the 9/80 work week popular?

The pandemic compelled many companies to reassess their business operations and employee management strategies. The surprisingly positive experiences with remote work have led to an explosion in the popularity of alternative employment models in the post-pandemic labor market. 

Flexible schedules have demonstrated the potential to enhance motivation, increase productivity levels, and foster employee engagement, and many candidates have come to expect them.

Are there advantages to a 9/80 work schedule?

The best work schedules strike a balance between accomplishing goals and allowing employees the most time away from work. Moving away from the “work for work's sake” process to a more flexible and achievement-oriented process has been shown to dramatically increase employee satisfaction, loyalty, and engagement. That, in turn, maximizes customer satisfaction.

There are several advantages to the 9/80 schedule. Let's explore a few of them.

Flexibility. A 9/80 work schedule creates flexibility that can include days off during the week for the employee without losing their overall hours. You can maybe take a weekday off to get some errands done, schedule medical appointments, or attend school activities that happen during the week for your child. 

Increased productivity. Arranging work hours in a 9/80 split can dramatically boost morale, motivation, and engagement, which, in turn, leads to increased productivity. 

With that extra day away from the office every two weeks, employees have more time to focus on themselves, which gives them a feeling of control over their own schedules, improving morale. Also, employees with that extra time away might need to use fewer sick days and less PTO. 

Easier commutes. With an additional day off, employees spend less time commuting overall. Over the course of a year, that saved time could translate to real savings in time, fuel, and money. 

Additionally, having a longer workday – meaning the employee comes in an hour earlier or stays an hour later – shifts the commute to times when there is less traffic, making the commute potentially easier and faster. Reduced commute times also mean better-rested employees, especially if you can reduce the physical toll of commuting.

Work-life balance. Incidents of employees complaining about burnout have seen a dramatic rise, with a 2022 study by Gallup showing that 43% of workers experience burnout at work. Greater flexibility and time away from work help to mitigate the risk of burnout. 

All of those Fridays or Mondays off add up to 26 three-day weekends a year for employees. That's time they can spend on family activities, personal passions, rest, short trips, or taking care of chores and appointments. 

Longer weekends. Many employees enjoy having a three-day weekend to look forward to every other week. This affords them the ability to do things like rest for more extended periods of time and plan a three-day vacation. 

Improved coverage planning. By staggering the days off between employees, the business can keep its doors open during regular business hours without the concern for coverage - all while still allowing each employee to have an extra day off every two weeks. 

Improved recruiting and retention numbers. Many candidates expect a flexible work schedule today, and many employers deliver on this expectation, according to the Flexible Work and Part-Time Benefits: 2025 Report. Offering a 9/80 schedule allows companies to remain competitive and attract and retain talented employees. 

What are the disadvantages of a 9/80 work schedule?

Despite their advantages, 9/80 schedules may not work for all companies or employees. Some employers have unique scheduling situations that make it difficult to implement this system. Additionally, for some employees, the extended hours or alternative structure just don't work for them.

1. Longer workdays. For some, a 9-hour workday isn't an issue, and having that extra day off is worth the shorter evenings. But for others, that extra hour can take a real physical toll. Working later means getting home later, so you have less time to enjoy your evening, and if you work in an area with shorter winter days, you'll end up driving to and from work in the dark for extended periods. Longer days can also lead to dips in energy levels late in the day, resulting in lethargy and unproductive final hours, or even exhaustion.  2. Fixed schedule. Although it's an alternative to a regular 9-to-5 schedule, a 9/80 work schedule is still fixed and cannot be modified under any circumstances. Employees generally decide on their scheduled off day long in advance and often can't get extra time off for unforeseen situations. It also doesn't offer the same flexibility as other non-traditional schedules. 3. Not suitable for everyone. This work schedule has advantages for many employees, but it may not be suitable for everyone. With a 9-hour workday, single parents may have to spend more on childcare, and individuals who work two jobs may find it simply too tiring.

4. Risk of burnout. If employees allow the more extended workdays to bleed over into even longer days and overtime, it can quickly lead to burnout. Burnout is associated with lower morale, increased health-related costs, and reduced productivity. Effective time management is essential, and employees who struggle with it are at an increased risk. 

5. Scheduling and payroll complications. Labor laws can complicate the implementation of a 9/80 schedule, particularly when it comes to hourly and nonexempt employees, who are generally entitled to overtime pay. Employers need to carefully assess how they implement a 9/80 policy to ensure they’re meeting federal, state, and local laws when it comes to overtime pay without negatively impacting their budget.   6. Time off policy complications. Employers need to assess their paid time off (PTO) and holiday policies when they offer a 9/80 schedule to ensure clarity. For example, when an employee takes a full day of PTO, will the number of hours of PTO be based on their standard schedule for that day?  If they work four 9-hour days and one 8-hour day in a week, and they happen to request PTO on one of their 9-hour days and their 8-hour day, the simplest way to approach this would be to count it as 17 hours of PTO based on their standard schedule for those days. In terms of holidays, the company will need to decide if holiday pay is based on an 8-hour or 9-hour day for employees.  

7. Negative impact related to customers or clients. If employees are consistently off on days when their customers or clients work, it could cause frustration for those customers or clients. 

8. Challenging to implement with smaller teams. In small teams where essentially all individuals are required to be at work to maintain coverage, offering a 9/80 work schedule could lead to complications.

For example, it may be challenging to stagger days off between weeks for employees, as it could result in staffing levels being lowered to below acceptable levels to meet the demands of the business. 

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How do you start a 9/80 work schedule?

If you decide that a 9/80 work schedule is an ideal solution for your situation, here are a few tips on how to advocate for this schedule when approaching your manager about it:

Prepare for your conversation by gathering data that supports working a 9/80 schedule and the benefits it affords the company.

• Make a list of why it’s important to you and how it will increase your productivity for the company - the latter part being most pertinent to the conversation. 

• Provide some options for what your schedule could look like. 

• Be willing to negotiate and compromise.  

Related reading: 6 Steps to Negotiating Flexible Work Arrangements

Is the 9/80 schedule right for you?

Adopting a 9/80 work schedule is a significant undertaking for both companies and employees. It can involve a challenging transition period and demand significant adjustments in employees' daily lives.

But if you're looking for interesting ways to boost productivity and improve work-life balance, and you're open to exploring alternative schedules, the 9/80 work schedule could be the solution for you. If so, then devise a plan to discuss it with your manager using the tips above. 

If you're looking for a role with more flexible working, the first thing you need to do is get your resume in shape. Why not send yours for a free resume review from the experts at TopResume and get your job search off on the right foot?

This article was originally written by Robert Lyons. It has been updated by Ronda Suder.