We all fall into one of these categories, but what exactly are the differences between weekday v weekend work? Working on the weekday is the norm for many people. But you may be surprised at just how different weekday and weekend work is. So, is it better to work weekdays or weekends? And is working weekdays really all it’s made out to be? Read on to uncover the truth for yourself!
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Weekday V Weekend Work
The below table highlights the key differences between weekday and weekend employment.
| Weekdays | Weekends | |
| Hours of work | Typically, full time but can be part-time or shift | Typically, part-time or shift work |
| Pay rates | Higher on average | Lower on average, Sunday pay rates are higher |
| Type of work | All types including office work, manufacturing, trades | Hospitality, retail & tourism are more popular |
| Time with family and friends | More time at weekends | Less time at weekends |
| Level of supervision | Higher, more management present | Lower, less supervisors and Managers around |
| Traffic volumes | Higher at rush hour | Lower at rush hour |
As you can see from the above, there is a strong case to be made for saying working weekends is worth it. From extra pay on Sundays to avoiding traffic. That said, there are also some advantages to weekday work, including being able to socialize with more people and having a higher wage. So, which type of work suits you best? Let’s find out.
Increased depressive symptoms were reported by people who worked weekends in a study of UK men and women. Source
Hours of work
Working a weekday job can vary in hours and work patterns. People can work part-time, full-time or shift work. The typical weekday involves a 9 – 5 full time job or similar. But if you’re working shifts or part-time, these hours will vary.
Weekends are less stereotypical. With shops, cinemas, activity centers, bars and restaurants often buzzing with people on weekends, the hours you work will be based on demand.
Consequently, you could be working early mornings or late nights to accommodate the flow of people. Working evenings or late nights will be more common as shops, bars and nightclubs stay open later.
Essentially, the type of job you opt for will heavily influence what hours you work.
Related: Is Part Time Work Easy? Surprising Must Know Factors!
Pay rates
Weekend jobs may run into unsociable hours. For that reason and the fact that people who work Sundays typically get paid more (often time and a half or more), you can benefit from a better wage by sacrificing some of your weekend.
Weekday staff earn an average of $33.77 an hour and an average salary of $44,888 per year
In comparison, weekend staff earn an average of $18.82 an hour and an average salary of $35,937.
The average hourly rate for a part-time worker in an average job is around $10 – $17. This could be almost half the hourly rate of a weekend worker!
An average annual part-time salary equates to $26,950. This is a far cry from a weekend salary and the average full-time salary of $44,888.
Evidently, working weekends can have a substantial impact on your earnings, especially compared to how much part-time workers earn.
Related: Casual Work v Full Time – A Guide & Which Pays You More?
Type of work
Weekday work is often a full-time role and branches into most industries. Weekend work is often part-time employment, but it can be full-time too and is often more niched.
The type of work typically associated with weekends involves food and hospitality, entertainment, tourism and retail.
That said, it can branch out into a wide range of other sectors where work is required on weekends. This could include manufacturing businesses, customer service, journalism.
Weekday work includes all of the above but tends to include office jobs, construction, mechanics, banks etc. who typically don’t work weekends.
Of course, whatever day you work, part-time work will always be an option. A work life balance is one of the biggest benefits to a part-time role.
Tip: Working weekends enables you to avoid rush hour traffic and have a faster commute.
Time with family and friends
For many people, weekends are used to catch up with friends and family. This is because most people are not working, in college or school at weekends. However, socializing will be one of the largest challenges for people who work weekends.
Sacrificing your weekends to work usually means foregoing nights out, weekend trips, spending time with family and attending any parties or events.
Of course, if you’re less sociable, a weekend job is also a perfect reason to avoid such events too…
If you are working on opposite schedules to your partner, family and friends, it gets difficult to schedule time to meet each other.
Equally if your children come home from college or work to visit at weekends while you’re at work, time together will be limited.
That said, if you’re strategic, you can arrange to meet them after they finish work on weekdays or after you finish work on weekends.
Tip: If you become friends with you weekend co-workers, you could socialize together on weekdays.
Level of Supervision
On weekday shifts, Supervisors and Managers are available to support and assist you with any queries or problems you have. Such supports may not be available or may be less readily available.
You may be relying on an on-call Supervisor if you’re lucky. But even at that, addressing issues over the phone is not always as effective.
This makes for a more relaxed atmosphere. You’re not going to be getting as many requests, calls and emails as a result which allows you to get on with your own work.
With less management around, someone will need to step up and take on some extra duties when the need arises.
Anything from opening and closing up shop to completing checklists or dealing with customer complaints could be in this remit.
Related: Part Time Work Pros And Cons – The Ultimate Cheat Sheet!
Traffic volumes
There’s no greater bane in life than travelling hours to work or sitting in rush hour traffic trying to get home. With weekday work, this is a common headache for people who work standard hours.
With weekend work, most people can avoid such traffic, provided they’re not working in a heavily touristy or popular area.
Working weekends can save a significant amount of time from this perspective alone. Particularly if you have a long wait in traffic or have to catch busy trains or buses to get to work.
Conclusion
Often you won’t have a choice between weekday and weekend work. But if you do, the above guide will enlighten you on the key factors you need to consider!
If you would like to gain further knowledge and insights on other types of emerging work patterns, then you’re in luck…
Here are some other useful articles I wrote that you should go check out:
- Is Weekend Work Worth It? + Does It Pay Better?
- Casual Work v Part Time – 6 Remarkable Differences!
- 13 Surprising Casual Work Pros And Cons For Employer!
- Part Time Work Pros And Cons – The Ultimate Cheat Sheet!
- 4 Day Work Week V 5 Day – Full Of Surprising Facts & Results
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