What Is A 9-Day Fortnight & How Does It Work? 

Discussions surrounding the elusive work-life stability have been ramping up in latest months, with many corporations introducing better flexibility to working hours, together with implementing a four-day week.

However now there’s a brand new child on the block – the nine-day fortnight. This versatile working association might be the proper resolution for many who wish to transfer away from the five-day week, however who aren’t prepared simply but to lose a complete day 4 occasions a month.

At the beginning of November, 17 organisations started trialling the nine-day fortnight as a part of the UK’s second four-day week trial. Let’s check out the way it works, and how one can implement it in your organisation.

What’s a nine-day fortnight? 

Merely talking, a nine-day fortnight is the idea of condensing 10 days’ work into 9, providing you with in the future off each two weeks.

Employees would work the identical hours they’re contracted to over a two-week interval, however would work further hours for the primary 9 days of the 2 weeks, permitting them to take Day 10 off.

How do you calculate a nine-day fortnight? 

To calculate a nine-day fortnight, you’ll have to first work out a employee’s contracted hours for a two-week interval.

For instance, if a employee is contracted to work eight hours per day, their contracted hours for 2 weeks can be 80 hours (on the idea that they work 5 days per week).

With the intention to work a nine-day fortnight as a substitute of 10, the employee merely must make up the eight hours they may take off. 

For instance, they may work for an additional hour Monday – Friday in Week One after which Monday – Wednesday in Week Two as a way to take the Friday off that week.

Most companies will introduce a cycle construction so that you could be clear on what’s Day One, and what’s Day ten, aka the break day.

How do I work a nine-day fortnight? 

If you happen to’re an worker and also you suppose a nine-day fortnight might be the best working setup for you, then you definately’ll want to sit down down along with your managers and HR division.

Whereas in the end the choice will lie along with your organisation, because of the Versatile Working Invoice that got here into impact in April 2024, staff now not have to have labored at a enterprise for 26 weeks or extra to request versatile working preparations and may as a substitute ask from day one.

If you wish to pitch a nine-day fortnight to your supervisor, do your analysis and clearly clarify the idea, reiterating that you just’ll be working your entire contracted hours over the two-week interval.

Is it the brand new four-day week?

One other frequent versatile hours possibility is the four-day week, however a nine-day fortnight isn’t the identical factor.

A four-day working week tends to take away a working day altogether.  While staff will usually work longer hours for the 4 days, they’re unlikely to make up the total day that’s misplaced.

In a nine-day fortnight mannequin, nonetheless, staff will work the very same hours over a two-week interval, with the hours condensed right down to 9 days.

A nine-day fortnight due to this fact can usually have much less influence on the day-to-day operating of a enterprise and on employees productiveness. 

At the beginning of November, the UK started a brand new four-day week trial. Many individuals will work a nine-day fortnight, suggesting it might be a great compromise for companies that aren’t snug with a four-day week, however wish to discover various versatile work choices.

Ultimate ideas

Introducing a nine-day fortnight mannequin may include a bunch of advantages, together with higher employees morale and wellbeing, elevated productiveness and longer employees retention. 

Altering the working mannequin of an organisation may be daunting, however a nine-day fortnight shouldn’t introduce an excessive amount of disruption, and will truly end in main mutual advantages for employers and staff.

If you happen to’re desirous about introducing a extra versatile mannequin, check out our information to each versatile working method that can assist you determine which one is best for you.