4 Day Work Week

JDavis21835

Being in the excavation business, long days are common place for us. 3 years ago, it was 5-12s and an 8 on Saturday. Production never really slowed due to long days. The last hour and a half seemed to slow a little, but the pace set during the rest of the day usually makes up for this. Mind you, this schedule is usually 8-9 months out of the year. Winter can be pretty slow, or non existent. Mind you, in the excavation business, you generally have to drive some decent distances to get to work. Last year I rolled over 21,000 miles for work alone. My current commute is roughly 300 miles a day. Thats 1500 miles for 5 days a week. 1,200 miles if we work a 4 day week. Big gas savings for me by shaving 1 day a week.

Customer wants someone there 5 days a week? Inform them why you are working a 4 day week, assure them that you will complete the project on time. You may have to work extra days if you have weather delays. But all in all, the savings for the company can be big. 4 days instead of 5 means less costs on some items. Big one being fuel delivery. If your working 5 8s, you need fuel to show up on friday, at the very least for monday morning. Not sure what kind of delievery charges you see for that, but if diesel goes back up, you can expect delievery surcharges to go up as well.

Now if your company is looking at this from the point of view of some trade shops around here, I dont agree with it. Around here we are seeing a lot of tool and die, electrical motor, and equipment repair shops cutting back to a 4 day week. But its 4 8s. They cut everyones hours by 8. I dont agree with this. If you cant support a full work load, then lay the low man on the totem pole off. I dont find it fair to cut the hours of your long term people. Some say its spreading the missery. Aint that the truth. But there is no reason you should have a long term employee suffer because you dont have work for everyone. Those people have paid their dues to you and your company.

jcalvin

My dad is in his late 50's and I am wearing down before he is. He is my right hand man and always there on the job with me. Curse of the men in my family. Papaw, Dad, now Me. Papaw's words "If you ain't sleeping, you better be working. Sleeping is always done while it is dark outside, never during the day. Any more than 5hrs in the bed ain't sleeping, that's hibernating." Don't find 'em like him anymore.

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You hired WHO

mckellarman

I typically do 6 x 10's my guys have the option of 5 x 8's or 6 if they wish. I prefer they not work 10's. I typically get there an hour early and leave an hour after. Gives me a chance in quiet to organise the job, do material lists.

TrenchDweller

Great insight!! I like the part of talking to the clients to let them know we are saving them money. My boss is going to start this next week so we will see how 4 10 hour days works on the jobs we can. As always, there is an exception or two.?. But, we do have to keep the clients happy.!!

Leo G

Just make the maggots work 40 hour days. It'll get done eventually.

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kodiak_island

I myself love the 4-10 action. I always seem to get more production done and you also get another day with the family if you dont have a bunch of other jobs going on. 1 less commuter day think about it. I guess I enjoy this schedule when I am working for another company and not my own. It is a great schedule for the crew

kodiak_island

Well that was doing a 40 hr work week . I would much rather do 6-10. I need a job with you LOL>