Had a colleague propose this today. And it seemed like a very fair thing to trade 20 percent of your income for an extra day a week. Opens up time for exercise, open source work, family and research. I'm curious if people have tried this and how receptive organisations are to such proposals.
But to answer your question, I would be tempted to take an extra day off but in the end I would not, and here's why. An extra day off disappears when you move to the next company (you: I worked a 4 day week at my last job, them: we don't do that here), but the salary typically forms a floor for negotiating the next salary (you: I made $180k at my last job, them: we can match or beat that). With the extra salary you could take extra unpaid vacation days to effectively get your extra day off and get the raise at the same time.
> But to answer your question, I would be tempted to take an extra day off but in the end I would not, and here's why. An extra day off disappears when you move to the next company (you: I worked a 4 day week at my last job, them: we don't do that here), but the salary typically forms a floor for negotiating the next salary (you: I made $180k at my last job, them: we can match or beat that). With the extra salary you could take extra unpaid vacation days to effectively get your extra day off and get the raise at the same time.
How does your new employer know your previous salary without you telling them? And on the other end, why wouldn't you price intangibles into your salary when negotiating?
I think it's an interesting trade only if you keep the same value of your time: having a 20% raise vs getting every Friday off (20% of your week). At the end each day has same value.
It's also depends what you are looking for, having a 20% raise might not change your lifestyle that much, where having extra day a week off can, especially if you have family.
13 comments
[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 41.1 ms ] threadBut to answer your question, I would be tempted to take an extra day off but in the end I would not, and here's why. An extra day off disappears when you move to the next company (you: I worked a 4 day week at my last job, them: we don't do that here), but the salary typically forms a floor for negotiating the next salary (you: I made $180k at my last job, them: we can match or beat that). With the extra salary you could take extra unpaid vacation days to effectively get your extra day off and get the raise at the same time.
> But to answer your question, I would be tempted to take an extra day off but in the end I would not, and here's why. An extra day off disappears when you move to the next company (you: I worked a 4 day week at my last job, them: we don't do that here), but the salary typically forms a floor for negotiating the next salary (you: I made $180k at my last job, them: we can match or beat that). With the extra salary you could take extra unpaid vacation days to effectively get your extra day off and get the raise at the same time.
How does your new employer know your previous salary without you telling them? And on the other end, why wouldn't you price intangibles into your salary when negotiating?
It's very easy to do nothing and waste the opportunity.
Would you trade a 40% raise for 2 days off?
Even better, do 4x9 hr days (nominal compared to 5x8), take 5th one off and only lose 5% take home, who wouldn't do that?