What is a 9/80 work schedule?

A 9/80 schedule is a flexible work arrangement that allows employees to work four days a week every other week. To maintain a total of 80 hours for each two-week period, they work nine hours per day on most days rather than eight. Giving employees an extra day off in this manner can help some businesses improve productivity and attract and retain talent.

Example of a 9/80 schedule

In a typical 9/80 schedule, employees work nine hours per day for eight days and eight hours for one day. The remaining day in the two-week pay period is time off. Here is a 9/80 work schedule example:

Week 1
Monday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Tuesday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Wednesday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Week 2
Monday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Tuesday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Wednesday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Friday: Off

Alternatively, the off day can be applied to Monday if that meets employee preferences and business needs better than Friday.

What is a 9/80 work schedule good for?

The 9/80 work schedule essentially expands summer Friday programs throughout the entire year, giving employees an additional 26 three-day weekends. Such a perk can help employers achieve the following:

• Enhance employee productivity – Employees may accomplish more in nine hours than eight hours, potentially eliminating the need to pause a project and resume it the next day.
• Improve work-life balance – Alternating four-day workweeks allow employees to spend more time with their families, manage personal affairs, pursue hobbies or simply relax without using paid time off (PTO).
• Attract and retain talent – Flexible work schedules are in demand with employees today and present an opportunity for smaller businesses to compete for talent with larger companies.
• Reduce absenteeism – Rather than come to work late or leave early, employees can reserve their doctor and dentist appointments for their additional day off.

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

A 9/80 schedule may not be suitable for every business, particularly those in retail or hospitality that operate seven days a week. Some of the difficulties include:

• Coverage – Some businesses may struggle to meet customer demand even if they stagger the days that employees are off.
• Employee burnout – Adjusting from an eight-hour workday to a nine-hour workday can be challenging for some employees and may decrease their job satisfaction.
• Complexity – Scheduling requirements and payroll may be more difficult for some businesses using 9/80 work schedules.
• Inflexibility – Because schedules have to remain consistent, some employees may have less leeway to attend to personal matters on the days when they work nine-hour shifts.

How to run payroll for a 9/80 workweek

A 9/80 workweek could seemingly pose overtime complications for employers with nonexempt employees. Recall the example schedule provided where employees worked four nine-hour days and one eight-hour day for a total of 44 hours. These workers would appear to qualify for overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and other state employment regulations

To avoid this problem, employers must define their workweek so Friday hours are split across two workweeks. For example, the pay period may begin at 1:00pm on Friday and end at 12:59pm on the subsequent Friday, resulting in a total of 40 work hours for each workweek.

Additionally, employers must determine whether PTO and sick leave will be calculated as eight- or nine-hour days. This decision should be documented in an official policy and made available for all employees.

Frequently asked questions about the 9/80 work schedule

How many hours is a 9/80 schedule each week?

A 9/80 work schedule is tracked over a two-week period. The first week usually consists of 46 hours, followed by 36 hours in the second week. However, the workweeks are defined in such a way that each workweek actually consists of 40 hours.

What are the rules for a 9/80 schedule?

Employees in a 9/80 schedule receive an extra day off every two weeks, but must still work a total of 80 hours during that time. To reach that mark, they work eight nine-hour days and one eight-hour day. The first four hours of the eight-hour day are applied to the first workweek, and the second four hours are applied to the second workweek.

Does the 9/80 schedule exceed the 40-hour workweek?

In short, no. Each full week of work in a 9/80 schedule amounts to 40 hours because the workweek is defined to end during the middle of the last day of the first workweek.

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

The 9/80 flex work schedule can help employers improve productivity and attract and retain employees who desire greater flexibility.

What is a compressed workweek?

When employees work the traditional 40 hours per week in less than five days, it’s known as a compressed workweek. Common examples include the 9/80 hour workweek schedule and 4/10 workweeks, which require employees to work 10 hours per day for four days.

This guide is intended to be used as a starting point in analyzing the 9/80 work schedule meaning and is not a comprehensive resource of requirements. It offers practical information concerning the subject matter and is provided with the understanding that ADP is not rendering legal or tax advice or other professional services.