Is a 5-Day Workweek Essential in IT? Balancing Employee Well-being and Business Needs

In an IT company, is 5 days a week compulsory?

We have a team of 5 developers, 2 salespersons, billing... We were having 5 days a week in our organization every alternate week. Once in two weeks, we had 5 days, and the following week, we had 6 days.

Due to market conditions and a few pending deadlines, we had to cancel this arrangement. However, after around 4 months, they raised the issue again, asking for 5 days a week. They mentioned that they cannot work for 6 days as they get tired (:huh:). They argued that they need a break for 2 days to work properly for 5 days, as they have to think and apply their minds, which require proper rest.

So, my question is, should an IT company have a 5-day workweek? Is it mandatory?

Hi Raj,

It is not mandatory to keep the 5-day-a-week concept in the company. It depends on the organization and its management to decide based on their working requirements for scheduling time off.

In your case, employees are giving different reasons, but you can see the company's needs. If you are unable to find a solution, you can consider the following approach: Divide the group of people who are required to work on Saturdays and provide them with alternate Saturdays off. This way, your office can operate continuously.

Thank you.

Dear Raj,

It is not about 5 days or 6 days; if you want, you can work for 4 days a week also. But the truth of the matter is that you cannot work for more than 9 hours a day, subject to a maximum of 48 hours a week. If an employer wants his employees to work for less than 48 hours a week (which is better than what the statute says), he is more than welcome to do so.

Hope you understand.

Regards

Thanks for the update. This will definitely help me to form the policy regarding this.

Now one more point which has come to my mind recently. They are all going for an outing during or after lunch. Is it something we can stop? Even salespersons are going out for around 30-40 minutes, leaving the whole sales department empty. Can we ask them not to leave the office during working hours? Working hours definitely include lunchtime, as customers or their calls can come at any time.

Dear Raj,

If your lunch break is for 1 hour, consider dividing it into two halves of 30 minutes each. Ensure that not all employees leave their workplace simultaneously. One group can take their break during the first half hour, and upon their return, the next group can go for lunch. It is important that regardless of when they leave, they must return to their workstations by the end of the lunch hour. How you communicate and enforce this policy is up to you as the HR representative.

Regards,