Four tens?

[TDAA]

In the US, are there any issues or restrictions (like from the IRS) for a salaried employee working 4 ten hour days? The company I am at says there are issues with that, and you must work on at least 5 days a week, but not necesarrily 8(+) hours a day. I don't want to do it all the time, just occasionally, like this week when I will have 40 without needing to take a day vacation.

I am pretty sure there are not, as there are state jobs that allow for flexibility, including comp time. I think it is just a company policy that they do not want to own up to when questioned. Most people would just let this pass, but this really grates on me that I believe they are lieing. I believe it is just that they won't get the 45+ they want out of you if you are only there 4 days. I would not mind if someone out ther could back them up on this, just want to know where it comes from.

 

[Bagman2524]

One employer of mine allowed 5-8's, 4-10's or 4-9's & 1 4.
The majority of engineers I know are on 4-10's.

 

[jeffcivil2]

You are a consultant, and this requires that you be able to answer questions every day of the week. Why would any client hire a consultant if he's not there every day for questions/communication?

And what if there are other employees who like to work 10 hour days mon-fri voluntarily? That would anger them by letter you skip Friday.

 

[TDAA]

So, Jeff, you will work 366 day this year? In the office? You are a company man, I tell ya! Good thing you can drop it back to 365 for the next three years. It will be liek getting a raise.

 

[Gumpmaster]

I'm in the US. I work 4 tens as do several of my co-workers. As far as I'm aware, there's no legal restrictions on 4 tens.

I do come in on Fridays if I have a meeting or conference call (or too much work).

 

[SWComposites]

There is no issue with the IRS related to a 4-10 work week. I did that for years at a large aerospace company. Management doesn't always like 4-10s since it tends to minimize the amount of overtime you work, and you are not there everyday so you might not be there when they have an unscheduled panic.

 

[PJones]

We used to work 4 tens years ago. I always took Wednesday off. What a great day to have off, especially when all of the other staff took Monday or Friday off.

Somehow we drifted away from it.

Hmmm.

 

[cvg]

since we now have cell phones, lap tops, high speed internet and email there really is not too many reasons to expect Monday - Friday, 8-5 from employees anymore. But you will have to negotiate with your employer. I'm a consultant and know a majority of the public agencies that I work for have 4 - 10's or 5 - 9's with Fridays being the day that most take off. In fact, it is generally required for public agencies to reduce the number of vehicle trips per day and this is one way to do it. Private companies are also suggested to reduce by car pooling, flex time or other means. So, for me there is no overriding reason to come into the office on Fridays.

 

[MadMango]

Our company is debating 4/10 vs a 9/80 (every other Friday off) pay period right now. From what I have seen, production can drop-off on a 4/10 schedule, especially if it is in a manufacturing environment. I doubt the IRS has anything to do with it, more like internal bean counters.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the be

 

[abusementpark]

I am not a manager, but if I were I wouldn't be a fan of (4)-10's. Working such long days, it is likely your last couple hours won't be as productive. Also, as people have mentioned before, it doesn't leave much room for overtime. I don't think people trying to get (4)-10's in to have a 3-day weekend in every now and then is a bad idea, but I wouldn't want it to be the norm.

 

[Latexman]

We work 9/80.

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[ivymike]

9/80 here too

 

[GregLocock]

I find that I actually get far more work done outside of core hours, so for me working 4*10 is an /increase/ in productivity compared with 5*8.







Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[keepinitcool]

I did 4/10 at a previous job. I thought it was good. Now realize that many police and nurses work 3/12. Can you imagine working 12 hrs as a policeman? That is apparently a typical schedule. So in comparison, sitting in a good chair in a/c isn't so bad.

 

[AutoXer]

... Now realize that many police and nurses work 3/12. ...

My wife is a nurse and she works a lot of 12hr shifts. She likes it. I think I'd hate it. Then again, I'm working somewhere around 5-9s. Around here, you get "the look" if you leave on-time.

 

[memiles]

4/10 here in TX, however ends up being 4/11 or 12. Panics don’t bother me living 1.5mi from the office.

Mike

 

[TDAA]

Well, the first time I asked the question it was to get an extra day skiing shortly after I started. I just wanted the occasional day here and there in the winter althought I could go for that every Wednesday off deal - so few crouds. This time around, I was putting in some pretty long days, getting ready for a vacation. I commented that I may not have to use a day of vacation because I had my hours in. I was asked if I had worked Sunday. Knowing what the voss was getting at, I replyed that I would log in remotely and complet my timesheet for 5 minutes on Saturday. As he was starting up, I through the BS flag. If it is companny policy, that is fine, but don't lie to me.

I actually like what one of our local firms has done. They have switched to 4 9's. They just want to see production stay up.

 

[monkeydog]

There is no IRS regulation restricting how you work your hours. They just want their cut of your pay. So the more you work the happier the IRS is.

I would bet it is the payroll people. They probably have a software package that does not know how to make more then 8 hours a day straight time. The software probably trys to pay you overtime when you work 10 hours in day, then the taxes are different for the overtime. Hence the IRS excuse.

 

[Trackfiend]

We work 5/8, or 4/9 + 4 (9/80). We also have varying start times for work (7am, 7:30am, 8am...)

It would be nice if I could work hours like my wife (a nurse also), 3/12 and an 8.

 

[mechengdude]

There is no IRS issue with 4-10's for a SALARIED employee. There are probaly some issues for the company if you are HOURLY in that they may have to pay an overtime rate for some of the hours depending on how the pay period is set up. For example, my company is on a two week pay period and we are allowed to work whats called a 9-80, which means you work 9 hour days to get in your 80 hours and you take every other Friday off. The time keeping is setup so the first week technically ends when the employee has 40 hours so no overtime is paid.

Long story short should be no issue if you are on salary. If the company says there is, ask nicely for them to be specific so you can understand.