4-10's or Telecommute?

[Xodus]

Due to fuel prices and some recent company developments, my dept has been offered a choice, 4-10's or telecommute one day a week. In other departments a choice of the two is mandatory, not sure if it is in my situation yet.

I've done the telecommute thing, and I am very productive when I do it, but that was at a different company when I was working on large projects and busy all the time. The place I am at now, I have trouble even filling 8 hours in a day (sometimes I have less than 2 hours of work to do in a day), so I am afraid that 10 hours would be mind-numbing as even 8 hours is tough right now, but I would really like 'extended' weekends.

On the other hand, the 'telecommute day' would allow me to be productive at the office AND around the house, but I would lose long weekends or random days off in the middle of the week.

I think we could even mix and match 4-10's one week, telecommute the next, as it is basically 'Flex Schedules'.


Anyone ever done 4/10's? Pro's? Cons?

 

[psulifter]

ive worked 4-10s before and really enjoyed it. I got 3 day weekends every week. Although, as you said, if you don't have enough work to keep you busy it can be a pain to spend 10hrs. at the office.

 

[KSMA]

its kind of similar, but I work 8 10's then get 6 days off. Not to bad. I enjoy the extended break.

 

[B5150]

I'm presently doing a 3/12's for 40 work week. Like yourself it can get pretty rough when there is no meaningful activities to keep you productive and active. But I do have those 4 days off and if I do go in at all on the 4th day it is OT. I'm making more gross in 3 1/2 days than I did on 4 10's and an 8 because I get a shift differential and a 4 hour premium.

Saves me money with gas (I can believe I said save...it is still through the roof) and lots of time to do other things or nothing at all. But it can be like doing time and then your get work released...as in released from work

I think a lot depends on the person and their work ethic/drive as well as what they have as a life outside of work that they are interested in doing. Some people have nothing without their jobs.

 

[Xodus]

I'm presently doing a 3/12's for 40 work week. Like yourself it can get pretty rough when there is no meaningful activities to keep you productive and active. But I do have those 4 days off and if I do go in at all on the 4th day it is OT. I'm making more gross in 3 1/2 days than I did on 4 10's and an 8 because I get a shift differential and a 4 hour premium.

Saves me money with gas (I can believe I said save...it is still through the roof) and lots of time to do other things or nothing at all. But it can be like doing time and then your get work released...as in released from work

I think a lot depends on the person and their work ethic/drive as well as what they have as a life outside of work that they are interested in doing. Some people have nothing without their jobs.

Unfortunately for me O.T means Own Time, so no added benefit there. I came from a place where 80+hrs / week was the norm. After coming to a personal realization and moving to a different part of the country where things are a little more 'relaxed', time off is definitely more important now. People brag of getting 70+ days of skiing in each season and when someone asks you 'what you do', they don't mean for work, they mean, mtn bike, kayak, flyfish, snowboard, hike, rock climb, etc. VERY different from the East Coast.

:woohoo:

Previously I could have been put into the 'nothing without my job' category, now my attitude is 'It's just a job' and I work to live, not live to work. I was hired on to work on several large IT projects in an uncertain industry and since accepting the offer, all major projects have been put on hold, so basically I surf the internet all day, except for ~maybe~ 2 hours of total work each day, some days less, some days more.

If I telecommuted, I would 'gain' some home time, an extra workout day, time with my aging dog, and probably drain my netflix queue fairly quickly and still only have to put in 4 'slow' 8's at the office. Essentially a day off that I just stayed around/near the house.

If I switched to 4 10's, I'm not sure if it will be rolling days through the week (there are 5 of us that would need to rotate) or if we will all just pick our day to be out and that would be that. So instead of an extended weekend, I may get Mon/Tues Wed off Thurs/Fri or something similar.

I am the type of person that has drive and work ethic, but there needs to be work to do. In the past I've had no problem putting in 12-15 hr days or working from home without slacking off, but in this current situation it seems that will be inevitable.

:frustrate

Keep the thoughts coming.

 

[B5150]

After coming to a personal realization and moving to a different part of the country where things are a little more 'relaxed', time off is definitely more important now. People brag of getting 70+ days of skiing in each season and when someone asks you 'what you do', they don't mean for work, they mean, mtn bike, kayak, flyfish, snowboard, hike, rock climb, etc. VERY different from the East Coast.


Keep the thoughts coming.

I think I am envious.

Unless there is a financial hardship from any of this, I personally would opt for that life, as it is has more living in it than working.

Send me a link to that city's chamber of commerce so I can find an employer to send my resume.

Good luck with making decision decision.

 

[Gtarzan81]

I think I am envious.

Unless there is a financial hardship from any of this, I personally would opt for that life, as it is has more living in it than working.

Send me a link to that city's chamber of commerce so I can find an employer to send my resume.

Good luck with making decision decision.

I second that (dust off resume)

I was working for hotels for a while, and would do doubles Mon-Thurs, and had a 3 day weekend every week. You hated those 4 days, but the 3 in a row every week was great.


That being said, the "do nothing" schedule your on currently, might make thos elong hours even more insane.

Try it both ways, and see which you like better.

 

[Xodus]

Thanks guys.


Invalid Link Removed


300 days of sunshine a year. Absolutely the smartest thing I've done in my life so far was moving here.

:dance:

 

[pool_shark]

I've never had to work 4 10's, but I do telecommute. I work from home 3 days per week, Wed, Thur, Fri.

I also have periods where I have nothing to do. I fill that time cleaning up, working out, etc. I'm always watching my email and IM's, and when something pops up, I jump on it.

 

[Xodus]

I've never had to work 4 10's, but I do telecommute. I work from home 3 days per week, Wed, Thur, Fri.

I also have periods where I have nothing to do. I fill that time cleaning up, working out, etc. I'm always watching my email and IM's, and when something pops up, I jump on it.

I just started telecommuting this week. Tues & Thurs. May go to 3 days/week. Liking this much better.

Much more productive days.