New to Corporate: Can I Switch Saturday to a Full Workday for My Team?

I am new to the corporate world. Recently, I set up an office in India for an IT company. The timings were Monday to Friday (8 hours) and Saturday (4 hours), with Sunday as a holiday. I am aware that most large companies give weekends off. However, the norm in the city I stay in is to have Saturday as a full day (8 hours). I have found some of my clients requesting office timings on Saturday afternoon as that is the time they are free for discussions. I would like to know if I can change the office timings on Saturday from a half day to a full day.

Currently, I have 3 employees, and all are on probation. So, when I make them permanent (in a month), can I inform them about this change and issue a new job letter?

Please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Well, Ms. Jennifer, I do not know about your company's leave policy, holiday policy, as well as other policies and norms made and maintained by top management.

Considerations for Client Requests

Firstly, I would like to say that it is not a good practice that, on a few clients' requests or for their convenience, the company should edit/update or change its working days or timings to help them out.

If those clients are truly valuable to the company and the company is not willing to refuse their request, you may accordingly schedule your employees. As you have only three employees at this time, you can opt for a second shift, aligning it with the company's norms and to honor your clients' requests.

Shift Arrangements

If possible, you may also shift your employees working on Saturdays. If any one employee agrees to work in the first half on Saturday, they may work alone. Later, in the second half, the remaining two employees can cover the next four hours. By implementing this, in a few weeks, you will determine if such a shift work arrangement is beneficial for you or not. This approach can be applied on a trial basis as well.

Policy Enforcement

If the company is willing to enforce a mandatory policy to work on Saturdays (second half), then you have to communicate this clearly to your employees before the completion of their probation period. If they are sincere and willing to continue with the company, they should agree to abide by the company's policy.

As a manager, you need to explain things and points in a transparent manner, as many companies in India and abroad follow such working schedules to serve their clients.

Best wishes. Soon, you will sort this out, I assure you.

Regards,
Manish Srivastava

HR & ISO Consultant (QMS/EMS/FSMS)
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