Is a Four Day Work Week Un-American?
The 9-5, M-F tradition has been passed down for generations in the United States, but as we all know, this just isn’t so anymore.
Fulltime American employees in 2022 work all sorts of different schedules, which can include longer than 40 hours, weekend shifts, night shifts, days shifts, and everything in between.
The Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has since demanded changes and a call for a reevaluation of the traditional workday and workweek. One noticeable change is the increase in the number of remote workers. But are we also moving towards a four-day workweek?
The US vs. Other Nations
The four-day work week is something companies have been toying with prior to the pandemic. And many Americans are in favor of it with surveys indicating that as much as 92% of the workforce would be onboard. However, we are well behind other countries when it comes to a work-life balance. European countries especially place higher importance on travel, vacation time, longer lunch breaks, and reduced hours. A full-time worker in the Netherlands averages only 29 hours a week, but that doesn’t mean they are getting any less work done.
Can the 4 Day Work Week Increase Productivity?
We must remember that just because an employee is present at work 40+ hours each week, doesn’t mean they are using all those hours effectively. In fact, numerous studies have concluded that we are truly productive about three hours out of an eight-hour day, give or take.
Many companies with 4 day work weeks have actually seen an increase in productivity, including Microsoft Japan, by about 40%.
However, that doesn’t mean that four-day work weeks are all gravy.
Different Types of 4 Day Work Weeks
It’s also important to note that there are different types of four-day work weeks.
- The holy grail of four-day workweeks is a reduction in hours without a reduction in pay. Therefore, you will only be working 32 hours a week, but be compensated for a 40-hour week.
- A second type of four-day workweek is a reduction in pay equal to your reduction in hours.Therefore, you will only be compensated for 32 hours.
- Another type of four-day workweek is where an employer will add two hours to your shift each day for four consecutive days, giving you the same total of 40 hours each week but in a shorter period of time.
- A fourth type of four-day workweek is scheduled only during a particular season, usually summer, where employees are given the perk of “summer hours.” This usually entails a reduced schedule on Friday.
- Some companies are also strictly deadline-driven and offer what they call “unlimited vacation” as long as all your projects are completed on time.
Pros and Cons of a 4 Day Work Week
Let’s examine the pros and cons for both employees and employers considering a four-day workweek.
Pros
The potential pros offered by a four-day workweek include:
- Saving on company resources, like office supplies and electricity (some companies are already saving millions of dollars each year).
- Decreasing commuting costs.
- Increasing work-life balance.
- Reducing burnout.
- Increasing productivity.
- Increasing mental health.
- Increasing community and charitable involvement.
- Furthering education and development of new skills.
- Attracting and retaining new employees.
Cons
The potential cons offered by a four-day workweek include:
- Decreasing productivity.
- Increasing burnout and reducing mental health with tighter deadlines and longer days.
- Difficult to implement effectively.
- Not suitable for all industries and positions.
4 Day Week Global Program
Currently, approximately 40 companies in the US in Canada are taking part in a six-month 4 Day Week Global research program. During this trial period, employers will test a 32-hour workweek without a reduction in pay to see what benefits, if any, are achieved.
Where do you stand?
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