How society works has been changing since the coronavirus pandemic, be it working from home or receiving flex time. The newest trend in the workplace is the four-day work week. The idea has gained steam, especially as more workers become disgruntled and frustrated by the idea of returning to the office and enduring the plight of the morning and afternoon commutes. But would having a day off during the week breed positive results? Some companies are excited about the concept, while others are worried about a loss of productivity. What’s the deal?
The Four-Day Work Week
A new study by researchers at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, Boston College, and UK-based think tank Autonomy learned that introducing a four-day work week reduced stress and improved workers’ health compared to a five-day work week.
The scientists initiated a six-month trial involving 61 British companies in multiple industries and nearly 3,000 workers from June to December 2022. The largest study to date had two conditions: The pay was not cut, and employees were extended a sizable decrease in work time. The findings were not too surprising, such as 39% of employees feeling less stressed, 71% reducing levels of burnout, and most enjoying better sleep. But the notable development was that 92% of the participating firms planned to implement a four-day work week within the next five years, mainly because companies’ revenues were largely unchanged. In fact, revenue increased by 1.4% for 23 firms.
“We’re delighted to add these overwhelmingly positive results to our ever-growing evidence base in favour of reduced-hour, output-focused working,” said Charlotte Lockhart, 4 Day Week Global Co-Founder and Managing Director, in a statement. “Not only do these findings demonstrate that the UK pilot programme was a resounding success, but it is encouraging to note that they largely mirror the outcomes from our earlier trials in Ireland and the US, further strengthening the arguments for a four-day week.”
Ultimately, like remote work, it might become a critical component of employment for workers, with nearly one-fifth stating that the additional day off would be more important than a raise. In the last few years, how people fulfill their occupational duties has dramatically changed as more individuals seek a better work-life balance with flex time and working from home.
This is not the first survey to highlight a strong correlation between employee satisfaction, workplace productivity, and a four-day work week. From universities to private firms, many organizations have launched pilot projects assessing the pros and cons of a shortened work week.
Pros and Cons
Bernie Sanders (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) weighed in on the study, tweeting that it is time the global economy “move toward a four-day work week with no loss of pay,” adding that “workers must benefit from technology, not just corporate CEOs.” Since Sanders has endorsed the proposal, it might be wise to determine the advantages and disadvantages of installing a universal three-day weekend in the labor market.
As the saying goes, a happy worker is a productive worker. So far, many different studies have produced the same results: Office environments either maintain the same level of productivity or see a boost. This leads to higher job satisfaction, greater company loyalty, and improved teamwork. In addition, the research shows that employees are more engaged at the workplace due to having enough time to recover and recharge their batteries.
But what happens if companies compress their hours? So, for example, if Acme International installs a four-day work week by having staff work ten-hour days four times per week, this might cause personnel to become perturbed since that is a lot of time dedicated to working. But what if the business utilizes a four-day work week and keeps the seven- or eight-hour schedule? Would this result in reduced pay? While Sanders does not want employees to lose pay, companies cannot hand out an extra day’s income without something in return. Despite his something-for-nothing doctrine on economics, this may hurt organizations and workers either way.
Another area for improvement might be customer satisfaction. A study in Utah discovered that clients were upset they could not access services since offices shuttered their doors on Fridays. This could be resolved through artificial intelligence, chatbots, and digital tools. However, if this is successful on Fridays, would it not be useful from Monday to Thursday, effectively causing many workers to become redundant?
(Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Let the Market Decide
Ultimately, it will be up to the market to choose if a three, four, or five-day work week is superior. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health crisis, society has learned that employees can be as productive at home because they are performing the exact same tasks as they would inside a centralized environment. In fact, when commute times, superfluous water-cooler talk, and endless meetings are eliminated from the equation, they may be more productive. Indeed, over the last century, total work hours have come down drastically, be it in Germany or Canada. Has the economy suffered? No, because technology has allow?ed the marketplace to bolster its output.
More than a century ago, when Americans were working 65 hours a week, they would have thought it impossible that people may clock in half that time. Perhaps it will be challenging to imagine society clocking in four hours a week in the next century. But this is what happens when the economy becomes more advanced and produces more prosperity for everyone.
