What is a 30-hour work week?
A 30-hour work week typically comes in one of two forms: 1) 6 hours of work per day for five days, or 2) 7.5 hours per day for four work days (also known as a four-day work week).
If you had an assembly line of workers making cars (like Henry Ford had in 1926 when he designed the 40-hour work week), you’d notice hours are highly correlated to output. How many steering wheels can you screw on in one hour? Repeat.
In knowledge work (desk jobs), I’m a big believer that output is not tied to hours. If most of the value you provide in your job comes from your ability to think, your output diverges from your time. You’ll have bursts of creativity, creation, and projects where you deliver high-value output, then have lulls or breaks from work. This setup allows you to rethink standard work hours for yourself or your business.
That’s why we’re in an era where, after 100 years, people are starting to question the 40-hour work week. The 32-hour, four-day work week is catching on. Companies using that schedule have reduced typical working hours by 20%, and many report no loss (or even a gain) in productivity.
The 30-hour work week is a reduction in typical work hours by 25%. Although there are not many companies that offer a 30-hour work week for full-time employees, there are lots of entrepreneurs and freelancers who work 30 hours per week. I asked our list of contributors to share their weekly work schedules if they work about 30 hours per week. I received 28 replies; we’re highlighting the most useful ones here.
30-Hour Work Week Schedule Examples
Flexible 30
30 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
I usually do six to eight hours per day, four days a week. I don’t always take the same weekday off; sometimes it’s a Friday, sometimes it’s a Monday, and sometimes it’s midweek. I work mostly during the day (9 to 5), but if the sun is out, I might spend the day in the garden and work in the evening.
My work — online marketing — is very flexible. I structure my work around my family, the weather, and other non-work commitments. Other things are primary, and work comes next. We homeschool our children and I work from home, so if we decide to do a day trip or something like that, not working isn’t an issue!
– Daniel Morris of Fire and Saw
30 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
After being a high-achiever corporate climber and reaching a point of burn out, I recognized that my mental health and physical health was suffering in exchange for a title and a paycheck. This led to me create my own rules for my business one that supports my well-being so that I can give to my business and clients purposefully and with excitement to do every day. The impact of this 4-day intentional scheduling has not only benefited my mental and physical well-being but it has challenged me to be hyper productive to achieve the results I want in a shorter period of time.
– Vanessa Santos of Start Up With Vanessa
(Video) Jordan Peterson on people who work 80 hours a week30 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
I am an introvert, so I am constantly optimizing my schedule to align with my energy levels as well as my business needs. Currently, I limit meeting with clients to Tuesday through Thursday. This allows me to rest and recharge as well work on projects Monday and Friday, if needed, or take 3- to 4-day weekends.
– Kyle Elliott of CaffeinatedKyle.com
Descending Four-Day Week
30 hours per week over Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Start with the heaviest and most important tasks on Tuesday and taper them off by Friday. A chunk of my work is finished by mid-Thursday. By structuring it this way, I’m working more in an energy management style rather than a time management style, and I’ve found this to be very effective.
A four-day work week has changed my life so much that I actually feel happier in my head knowing well that I have checked off all tasks and have so much time for myself, too! Never thought these two things could co-exist before I started this schedule.
– Sam Lockwood of 52 Editions Website
Three-Day Weekend
28 hours per week over Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
I like to keep Tuesdays clear of meetings and calls so I can get my head down and make a good dent in the work for the week. I try to fit all meetings on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so I can work on business admin and marketing on Fridays.
Since starting my own company, I’ve always aimed to have a three-day weekend. This new schedule is a healthy approach between having enough time in the week to grow the business while still having plenty of time on the weekend for family and friends. I’m also fortunate that my partner works four days a week, too, and we share the same days off. We tend to use Mondays as a day together for just the two of us to do something nice, as most of our friends and family are back at work.
Passion First
28 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
I work Monday through Friday, four or five hours per day, and three to six hours on Saturday.
(Video) If 6 persons working 8 hours a day earn 8400 per week, then 9 persons working 6 hours a dayMy work schedule works around my passion for being an adult competitive figure skater. Since I most often travel to the rink and then work out with my coach four days a week, I most often work from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. and then start again after 10:30 or 11. In addition, I frequently work several hours on Saturday where I can focus on projects like writing blogs and preparing training sessions without interruptions or meetings.
– Stan C. Kimer of Total Engagement Consulting by Kimer, Inc.
Three On The Three
30 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
I work three 10-hour days (8 a.m.- 6 p.m.), Monday to Wednesday.
My grandfather told me that if I wanted to enjoy life, I should work hard and play hard, so I decided to devote the first half of my week to work and the second to “play.” It’s a schedule that works for me and my mindset. It ensures that my business is successful and that I have the time to do all everything I want and need to do.
– Matthew Osborn of Legionary
Unfussy and Intuitive
25-30 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Typically, I have no meetings on Mondays and Fridays — they’re reserved for deep work and focus. I have blocks of time for focused work in the mornings, with the afternoons reserved for meetings and connecting. The first thing that happens every day is work for me — writing that will move me closer to my vision. This might look like book writing or editing, social media sharing, or blogging.
After 13 years in the corporate world, where I had to fill at least 40 hours a week and make sure I looked busy (I was a master at efficiency and had much time to spare), I realized how toxic those behaviors were. When I quit my corporate management consulting job to become a writer and writing coach, I knew I’d do business differently. My creativity comes first, followed by my family and then my clients.
Chunked Freedom
30 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
I block my work schedule into two three-hour sections per weekday. I usually start around 7 a.m., break around 10, then jump back in for another three hours as my schedule allows. I find this useful because it’s easy to mix and match. For example, maybe I want to meet with friends or go to an event on a particular afternoon. If that’s the case, I can miss the three hours of work that afternoon and make it up over the weekend.
Finding three hours to work during the weekend isn’t hard, so it’s easy to have a 30-hour work week that allows for almost any personal wants or needs that could come up over the week.
(Video) He Farms 35 Hours a Week By Himself and Makes 6 FiguresFreelancing is challenging at first, particularly when it comes to time management. “Working in your sweatpants” isn’t always the most consistent. Over time, I landed on this style of work as I feel that it’s the healthiest balance of dedicated work time and the freedom that freelancing can allow.
– Maxwell Martinson of Lolahemp
Working Mom Schedule
30 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
My work week is usually determined by how much time I have to myself after sending the kids to school and finishing my chores or responsibilities. On Mondays, our team conducts a remote meeting to brainstorm for content, come up with any ideas and put together a content calendar for the week, and assign topics and deadlines. As our content requires a lot of research, we usually take Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to research and put together the articles. Fridays are for publishing content, responding to comments, and making any necessary changes.
I work when my five kids are at school/day care. This usually gives me six hours a day during weekdays after deducting taking kids to and from school and handling responsibilities at home when they get back. This gives me the benefit of being able to care for my family while still having a successful career — without the guilt.
– Nicole Thelin of Low Income Relief
4 by 7
28 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
I stick to a Monday through Thursday schedule. Each Thursday, I write down my upcoming projects for the next week. Having this old-fashioned visual calendar gives me an idea of how much work I have and how much room I have left over to take on other projects if they arise. If more work comes up than I can handle during my four-day week, I extend my turnaround times. I usually start work around 9:30 a.m., after dropping off the kids at school and walking two miles at our local park. I usually finish around 3:30-3:45 p.m., when I have to pick up kids and take them to their sports and activities.
I tried the four-day week after ending up with a free Friday off one week when things were slow. I loved having that day to myself so much I decided to make it permanent. I have bigger career goals beyond freelance writing, so having that extra day off during the week while the kids are in school gives me more time to work on my brand and business goals.
– Alli Hill of Fleurish Freelance
11-6
30 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
I prefer to wake up without an alarm and enjoy a mindful breakfast, so 11am is a great start time for me. Stopping at 6pm gives me plenty of time to read, relax, and spend time with family.
– Matthew Ramirez of Rephrase Media
(Video) Work 80 Hours A Week. Kevin Samuels. #hiphop #blackmen #kevinsamuels
Split 3-Day Work Week
30 hours per week over Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
I work 8am – 4 pm plus 7:30 – 9:30 pm 3 days a week. By working a split shift I can I work with international clients and be present with my young children more. I meet with clients in the Americas in the morning, admin during the afternoon and be present for family time in the evening and after my kids are in bed I meet with my European clients. This schedule allows me to be present with my family, be productive and successful in my work and enjoy more travel due to always having a 4 day weekend.
– Melanie Bruce of The Leveraged PhD
What does a 30-hour work week look like?
A 30-hour work week, if offered to employees at a company level, is typically done over a four-day work week: Monday through Thursday for 7.5 hours. The more common format is a four-day, 32-hour work week (but that’s functionally the same). If a 30-hour work week is done by an entrepreneur or freelancer, it can come in many formats.
What are the benefits of a 30-hour work week?
I’ve worked about 32 hours per week over a four-day work week since the start of 2020. These are the benefits I’ve experienced working the reduced schedule:
- Improved work-life balance
- Increase in happiness
- Fewer meetings
- More time for personal use and development
- Lower childcare costs
You can read more about the benefits I’ve experienced here and the benefits we experienced as a company here.
Can you find 30-hour work week jobs anywhere?
Since we all still think in eight-hour work days, a full-time, 30-hour job is rare. I know that sounds arbitrary, but it’s true. If you’re looking for a full-time job, the closest setup you’ll find is a 32-hour work week, or four-day work week. Many companies have adopted that model.
If you’d like to see what’s out there for flex-schedule positions and companies, take a look at Flexjobs. You’ll find dedicated filters to “flexible” and “alternative” schedules.
See Also:55 Places For Work From Home, Make Your Own Schedule Jobs
View other unique work week schedules
This is part of our series highlighting unique work schedules. Have a look:
- 80-Hour Work Week
- 60-Hour Work Week
- 50-Hour Work Week
- 40-Hour Work Week (Creative Schedules)
- 32-Hour Work Week
- > 30-Hour Work Week
- 20-Hour Work Week
- 4-Day Work Week
- 3-Day Work Week
- The 9-80 Schedule
- The 4-10 Schedule
- Average Work Hours Per Week For Every Country
We hope you find this article useful. Just so you know, Buildremote may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page to help keep this site running.
FAQs
What does a 30-hour work week schedule look like? ›
What does a 30-hour work week look like? A 30-hour work week, if offered to employees at a company level, is typically done over a four-day work week: Monday through Thursday for 7.5 hours. The more common format is a four-day, 32-hour work week (but that's functionally the same).
How many shifts is 30 hours a week? ›In fact, a 30-hour workweek, generally consisting of four full workdays (seven and a half hours) a week, or five six-hour days, offers numerous potential advantages.
How many hours a month is 30 hours a week? ›30 hours per week = 130.00 hours per month.
Is a 30-hour work week full-time? ›Definition of Full-Time Employee
For purposes of the employer shared responsibility provisions, a full-time employee is, for a calendar month, an employee employed on average at least 30 hours of service per week, or 130 hours of service per month.
With a 30 hours work schedule, employees can decide to work five days per week.
What is a 5 4 9 work schedule? ›The two most common are: 5-4/9 in which you work 8 9-hour days and 1 8-hour day in the pay period and get an extra day off. 4-10 in which you work 4 10-hour days each week of the pay period and have an extra day of each week.
How much is $15 an hour for 40 hours? ›Based on a standard work week of 40 hours, a full-time employee works 2,080 hours per year (40 hours a week x 52 weeks a year). So if an employee makes $15 an hour working 40 hours a week, they make about $31,200 (15 multiplied by 2,080).
How much is 20 hours a week at 30 an hour? ›If you want to break it out by week, let's assume you're working a normal 40-hour week. So to calculate your weekly income, see below: $30 an hour multiplied by 40 hours per week is $1,200 per week income. $30 an hour is about $600 per week working part time (about 20 hours per week).
What is a normal amount of hours to work in a month? ›The other method will provide the average number of work hours in a month. The known constants are 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, and 12 months per year: 40 hours per week x 52 weeks per year / 12 months per year = 173.33 average monthly hours.
Is a 30 hour work week more productive? ›It may seem counterintuitive, but working fewer hours can actually make you more productive. That's because when you work fewer hours, you're forced to focus on the most important tasks and eliminate distractions. In addition, the 30-hour workweek is much more closely aligned with the human brain's ability to focus.
Why do companies hire part-time instead of full-time? ›
Pros of hiring part-time employees
Lower overhead costs: It's less expensive to have part-time staff; full-time employees often require higher salaries and employee benefits. Flexibility: Hiring part-time workers allows for more nimble staffing for fluctuating scheduling needs.
Disadvantages of a 32-Hour Workweek
For many employers, it can be too costly to compensate overtime wages for a 32-hour workweek. This is due to the fact that with current legislation, employers are required to pay overtime wages for any employee who works over 40 hours per week.
A 30-hour work week allows employees to work fewer hours a week, which could be split up into four days or still be spread over five days but with fewer hours per day. Depending on the employer, workers may earn less pay or still make the same salary they had with a 40-hour work week.
How much is 11 an hour 40 hours a week? ›$11 hourly is how much per week? If you make $11 per hour, your Weekly salary would be $440. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.
How can I reduce my work hours? ›- Determine your needs and create a plan. ...
- Schedule a meeting with your supervisor. ...
- Explain your request clearly and provide context. ...
- Anticipate your supervisor's concerns. ...
- Emphasize the benefits of your request. ...
- Keep an open mind and consider alternatives.
For most companies, 30 hours to 35 hours per week is considered to be part-time. The federal government does not provide a definition of a part-time employee, so part-time is largely defined by employers and is different from company to company.
Will us go to 32 hour work week? ›Evidence from pilot programs show that 32 hour weeks are feasible, but business groups in California say it won't work for all companies. Lawmakers in California and D.C. are introducing bills that would encourage or require shortened work weeks.
Why is a 32 hour work week good? ›The 32-hour work schedule can promote creativity and drive innovation. As employees switch to a short workweek, they need to find unique, innovative ways to complete tasks faster and save time. This encourages them to explore strategies to improve their work and develop new best practices for their roles.
What is the healthiest work schedule? ›In general, 8-hour shifts are preferable to 12-hour shifts. Circadian physiology suggests that morning shifts should begin no earlier than 8:00 am for the physiological best fit to circadian rhythmicity.
What is a 3 4 3 work schedule? ›Three days OFF. Four days ON (second shift) Three days OFF. Four days ON (third shift)
What is a 5 3 5 4 schedule? ›
The 5-3 5-4 5-3 Shift Work Schedule
Five days ON. Three days OFF. Five days ON. Four days OFF.
Takeaway. $50,000 per year is approximately $24.04 per hour, but it's not as simple as it may seem to convert annual salary to hourly pay. Information is accurate as of Feb.
What is $45000 a year hourly? ›A salary of $45,000 per year is approximately $22.06 per hour, but factors including taxes and benefits will affect annual salary to hourly pay conversions.
How much is 60k a year hourly? ›How Much an Hour Is $60,000 a Year? Assuming that you work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks per year, you will be working 2,080 hours per year — this means your hourly rate would be $28.85 for a salary of $60,000 a year.
How much is $14 an hour 30 hours a week? ›When you're earning $14 an hour, you'll be making $560 a week, $2,427 a month, and annually $29,120.
How much is $11 an hour every two weeks? ›$11 hourly is how much per two weeks? If you make $11 per hour, your Biweekly salary would be $814.
How much is 13.50 an hour 40 hours a week? ›If you earn an hourly wage of $13.50 an hour and work for an average of 40 hours a week for 50 weeks a year, you'll earn a yearly salary of $27,000. The calculation assumes 50 work weeks with an average of two weeks of holidays in a year.
How many hours does the average woman work? ›| Marital Status | Average Weekly Work Hours |
|---|---|
| Married Men | 41.9 |
| Widowed, divorced, separated men | 41.2 |
| Never married men | 38 |
| Married women | 37.1 |
There are 52 weeks in a calendar year. On average, there are 2,080 working hours a year.
How long does the average person work in a lifetime? ›How much of your life is spent at work? Writer Annie Dillard famously said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” For many of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work; in fact, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime.
What is the best schedule for a 32-hour work week? ›
The most common 32-hour schedule is four work days (like Monday – Thursday) with eight hours per day. Essentially, Friday is removed altogether from a typical work week. I personally work this schedule now.
What is a 4 36 4 schedule? ›Those 36 hours, plus the four hours from the previous Friday (when the payroll clock started at noon), add up to 40 hours. Which means the workweek is over, and the employee gets Friday off. On Monday, the two-week cycle starts again.
What is 5 on 2 off 5 on 3 off work schedule? ›[5 on 2 off] [5 on 3 off]
This is one of the bigger templates with a rotation lasting 15 weeks. The officer will work 5 days on, 2 days off, 5 days on, and 3 days off. We noticed this pattern was used in law enforcement departments ranging from 25-50 people.
Therefore, some studies may determine that an optimal schedule would be from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a break around 1:00 pm for lunch.
What is a healthy work schedule? ›The typical healthy work week consists of 40 hours or less (A 38-hour week is optimal according to a study by time management expert Laura Vanderkam as relayed by Atlassian), a consistent schedule, and an array of workplace systems that set employees up for success.
What are the 3 types of work? ›The nature of work done can be categorized in three classes. They are positive work, negative work and zero work. The nature of work depends on the angle between force and displacement. Positive work- if the applied force displaces the object in its direction, then the work done is known as positive work.
What is the perfect number of hours to work every day? ›Ideal work hours per day to be productive. Though people usually work for 8 hours a day, no one is productive for that long. Scientists say the ideal daily working time is around 6 hours, and these should be concentrated in the morning.
Why is a 32-hour work week good? ›The 32-hour work schedule can promote creativity and drive innovation. As employees switch to a short workweek, they need to find unique, innovative ways to complete tasks faster and save time. This encourages them to explore strategies to improve their work and develop new best practices for their roles.
What is a 3 12 work schedule? ›All across the United States employers are trying to make workers work 12 hour-rotating shifts. A 12 hour rotating shift might work like this. For three days you work 12 hours during the day, have two days off; work 12 hours on nights for 4 days, have 3 days off; work 12 hours on days for 3 days etc.
What is a 6 10 work schedule? ›In this pattern, teams work 6 consecutive 10-hour first shifts, followed by 4 days off, then work 6 consecutive 10-hour third shifts, followed by 4 days off, then work 6 consecutive 10-hour second shifts, followed by another 4 days off.
What is a 3 2 2 3 work schedule? ›
The schedule is based on a 14-day period in which employees work 2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, and 3 days off. It is sometimes referred to as “every other weekend off.” This type of schedule is widely used in oil refineries.
What is a 223 work schedule? ›It's commonly called the 2-3-2 pattern because employees will work two day shifts, have two days off, then work three more day shifts. The following week, employees begin with two days off, then work two day shifts before their final three days off. This rotating shift schedule takes place over 14 days.
What is a 3 team 24 7 shift pattern? ›This rotating shift schedule needs 3 teams to work in a 12 hour shift in order to provide 24/7 service. Consequently, the employees will have to work for 2 days, 2 nights, and then have 2 days off in a repeat cycle.