“Do you need to work on the weekends?”
Many of us are employed in professions were working on the weekend is the norm. For some of us, it’s a grind that we have to endure. But for others, it’s a great chance to work the days and hours that suit us.
Working on the weekends can benefit some workers and there are many reasons why.
How Can You Benefit From Working On The Weekend
There are many benefits of working on the weekend, including earning more money through overtime rates, having time to attend school day activities, having free time during the week, and enjoying a hassle-free commute.
“Want higher pay, less stress, and better productivity at work?”
Here are some not-so-obvious benefits of working on the weekend that you may not know.
1. Increased overtime
Many types of weekend work, for example, retail and in the medical field, are part of a rotating roster. This means that you will sometimes be scheduled to work on the weekends, while other times you will work during the week.
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require that your employers pay you overtime par for Saturday, Sunday, or holiday work. However, many employees, or their representatives, negotiate special rates for weekend or holiday work to compensate for this type of shift work inconvenience.
If you benefit from this type of employment arrangement, you will take home more money in your pay packet for working the same hours as you had during the week.
2. Weekday discounts
When you work on the weekend, you’re more likely to have free time during the week. If this is new to you, you might be surprised at the discounts you can claim just because it’s a weekday.
For example, you might save money when you attend:
- The cinema
- The museum
- A touring art exhibition
- The tollway during off-peak times
- Mass transit during off-peak times
You might also get cheaper domestic and international airfares.
It doesn’t matter where you live, businesses want to encourage your patronage during non-peak times. This means that you’re likely to benefit from cheaper prices for weekday activities.
3. Avoid the crowds
None of us enjoy spending time in crowds. It doesn’t matter whether we’re waiting with hordes of other people to complete our errands for the week or idling in traffic on the way to the mall.
According to the US Bureau of Statistics, 34% of workers with just one job worked on the weekend. That leaves the other 66% who work during the week, to have their weekends free to complete their errands.
If you work on the weekend and have time off during the week, you’re less likely to encounter crowds as you do your grocery shopping and unlikely to get stuck in a traffic jam. Overall, you have more free time to do what makes you happy.
4. Less stress on the job
Over the weekend, you are less likely to have as much supervision as you would during the week, if at all! Most likely, your boss will have the weekend off. Because of this, many businesses will only allow proven or trustworthy employees to work on the weekend.
Without constant supervision, weekend work can be the time to get more work done.
If you are capable, this works in your favor because you are more productive and able to achieve more without constant monitoring or micromanagement.
You might also be able to get away with wearing jeans and sneakers to work, listening to music, and enjoying an overall more relaxed atmosphere.
5. Your choice of appointment times
One of the most difficult things about our modern lifestyle is having the time to fit everything in. When you work on the weekend, you have more time during the week to attend to your chores. And with fewer people competing for the time, you are more likely to get your preferred appointment window.
What’s even better is that you won’t be forced to take time off without pay to attend to them.
6. Family events
Of course, most major family events like weddings, birthday parties, and family reunions take place on the weekend.
However, there are many other types of important activities that take place during the week that you can attend if you work on the weekend.
For example, you can head off to your child’s school and help out during reading time or coach the local sports team. You can also be there when your child stars in the school play or is part of the choir.
7. Less interaction at work
Some of us thrive on social interaction and getting on with other people. Others, however, prefer to spend more of their time by themselves.
According to research published in the International Journal of Management, introverts make up almost half of the population. For them, working on the weekend can be a blessing if their type of job means there is less interaction with colleagues and customers.
Not only you will be more productive, but you will have more time to recharge without having to interact with others and are more likely to enjoy working during the weekends.
8. Busier shifts
When we’re busy, time seems to pass more quickly than when we have little to do. If you have the type of job that is busier on the weekend, working the weekend can make the shift fly by.
9. Longer shifts
Although few of us would volunteer for longer working hours for no reason, if we are appropriately compensated for our time, sacrificing the weekend for a paycheck is a great idea.
In some cases, you might be able to work longer shifts each day and fewer days overall each week.
While not necessarily for everyone, this type of schedule could be fantastic for someone who would love an extra free day each week without sacrificing their take-home pay.
10. It’s a convenient excuse
None of us want to lie, especially to our friends or loved ones. But there are times when working on the weekend is a great excuse to avoid attending a family gathering or outing that we would simply rather avoid.
Not only does it give you an excuse to skip the event, but you’re less likely to be invited to weekend events in the future!
11. A hassle-free commute
When you have to commute to work you are losing time that could be spent working or with your family. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2019 the average American spent 27.6 minutes commuting to work one way. That’s almost an hour each day!
9 in 10 American workers commute 18.8 miles to work each way.
On the weekend, there are fewer cars on the road, especially early in the morning. If you take mass transit, you’re also less likely to experience bone-crushing crowds. You might even be able to catch an express to shorten your journey!
And don’t forget to check for discounts on off-peak rates in your city. You might be able to benefit from weekly, monthly, or yearly off-peak rates, or even non-peak toll rates.
12. You can attend weekday classes
Many of us are keen to continually improve our skills and knowledge. It can be for our professional advancement or personal enrichment. If you work during the week, finding the time to attend class can lead to burnout thanks to late nights studying or attending night classes.
If you work on the weekend, you have the flexibility to attend weekday classes and tutorials, including face-to-face tuition.
13. Establish your side hustle
If you have a hobby that you want to monetize, or a side-hustle that gives you that little extra cash in your pocket each week, having the time to nurture your business is a key ingredient for success.
So use the time you save by working on the weekend and get that side-hustle off the ground!
14. Make yourself indispensable
A lot of people don’t want to work on the weekend. If you let it be known that you are willing and able, your bosses will soon see that you are an invaluable and indispensable member of the team.
Your keen attitude will also put you in line for a promotion or leadership role which, in turn, could lead to a bump in your pay.
15. Achieve work-life balance
We all work differently. For you, working on the weekend might be the best way to achieve the work-life balance that allows you to be the best possible version of yourself at work and in your personal life.
Why Do People Work On the Weekend?
People work on weekends mainly due to our busy modern lifestyles. People work on the weekends for many reasons;
- They work in a profession where weekend work is necessary.
- Their partner works during the week while they look after the children, and they swap on the weekend.
- They want to earn extra money outside their normal 9-5 job.
- They attend school or college during the week.
- They may have personal obligations they may need to meet during the week.
While weekend work can be challenging to most people, there are also many benefits, which make it an appealing prospect for a selected few.
Regardless, working on weekends is often a choice made depending on your industry and your work arrangements with your boss.
Working 9-5, during the weekdays from Monday to Friday, has long been the traditional working hours of full-time jobs.
If you choose not to work on weekends, changing a job, or making an alternative arrangement with your boss can be one of the choices you can make.
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