A common misconception many businesses believe and follow is that you work Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. Those of us who have worked in the field service industry know this isn’t true. For one, we work anywhere from 5 am until it gets dark out, and even beyond that. The second, lesser known fact is that you don’t need to work a typical 5 day work week to be a profitable and successful business.
Four day work weeks are becoming increasingly popular among all types of businesses. There are many benefits to fewer work days in a week, such as:
1. Less Fuel Costs – With fuel costs still at an insanely high price, who wouldn’t want to cut down on gas usage? If your guys can cut out an entire day of driving, why not reduce those costs? The same will be true for your equipment if it is not being used that extra day each week. Plus, both vehicles and equipment will be used a lot less over the years, meaning fewer maintenance costs popping up.
2. Happier Employees – This is a given, but employees love longer weekends. Getting that extra day off can make a world of difference for employee morale. Employees appreciate the recognition that they work hard and deserve an extra day off, while you get the benefit of having refreshed employees coming back each week.
3. More Productive – It’s a pretty simple concept, but when there is less time, you get more done. Your crews and office personal do not have a whole extra day to get things done, so they will have to focus more on the days they are at work. Motivation will be up with office and field morale, making working more pleasant and productive.
While the four day work week does have some great benefits, it may not be for every company. Perhaps you still keep five day work weeks during your busy months, and cut down to three or four day weeks when the season is at its slowest. You could also offer every other Friday off or let each employee choose one day off a week. This way they still get the benefit of a day off without you having to sacrifice too much of the business.
The nice thing is that a four day work week is simply an option. You can test it out in the slow season and see how your employees do. If they can handle the work load the same as a five day week, great! If they struggle to keep up or are not performing the way they do when they are working five, you can always change it back. (Hint: Your field service software can help you determine how productive your employees are.) It’s worth a shot if you are willing to take the chance.
And with the help of irrigation software, like HindSite Software, you can create future schedules to ensure no customer is left behind and every tech’s schedule is filled to its most efficient and productive state. To learn more about field service software, check out The HindSite Solution.