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 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 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.
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.
It’s also important to note that there are different types of four-day work weeks.
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:
Cons
The potential cons offered by a four-day workweek include:
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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