Our employees recently said in our annual survey that they would like to work longer Monday to Thursday and have a half day on Friday. I'm trying to put together a proposal for a pilot project and wondered if anyone has any advice about this? One issue will be holidays, because we don't want people taking every Friday off and "doubling" their annual leave entitlement.

Brian- my general advice is dont'

My specific advice depends on what service/products you provide as half day Fridays can be very damaging.

The advice on Fridays is that they either count as a full day or they cannot take Fridays off other than as a full week or convert your hols to hours

Brian

I have worked in many different industry sectors and have found that introducing flexible working is a good way to work.  Most of the companies have a 41/2 day working weeok allowing longer hours Monday to Thrusday and shorter hours for Friday.  Where flexible working is concerned there was limits on how many hours staff can accrue during one pay period, we always limited if to 16 hours debit, but allowed up to 11 hours credit allowing people who have personal issues to arrange to come into work later to enable them to sort out say child minding issues this helped reduce sickness absence.  You would have to enssure that there was a policy inplace to lay out core hours that every member of staff would be required to atend work.  An example of this is 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 16.00pm.  If you want more help with this please feel free to contact me.  You will require your managrs to buy into this as they would be expected to manage this arrangement.  I have also found that this results in improved productivity and morale.

Kim

Hi Brian, we introduced 'Compressed Working' a few years ago which allows employees to work additional hours within an agreed pattern to allow either a full or half day off within that pattern.  The scheme has been very well received and is seen by the employees as a huge benefit, I would be happy to email you the guidelines of our scheme so you can see how we have dealt with it. 

Hi Hazel

I wouls be interested in having a look at your scheme, if you wouldn't mind emailing me a copy.

Many Thanks in advance

Kim

Hello Hazel

I would be very interested to recieve a copy of your guidelines if possible?

Thanks Claire

We operate a 4 1/2 days working week whereby the normal office hours run from 8.00am- 4.45pm Mon-Thur and 8.00am - 12noon Friday with a half hour lunch break. We also have a policy in place where employees can take a maximum of 4 Fridays per year. This system seems to have worked very well for a number of years.