The Compelling Case For A 4-Day Workweek

Back in 2020, The World Economic Forum predicted that the growth of the remote workforce would happen quickly and have a colossal effect on traditional ways of working. They believed this adoption of digital technologies, aided by apps like Slack, Trello, Zoom, and Google Teams, would lead to two-fifths of the global labor force working from home or just anywhere with a good internet connection. In 2022, nonprofit organization 4 Day Week Global went further than a prediction about remote work and instead reimagined how remote work could impact workplace culture, specifically around hours of work. The organization began conducting six month trials of a four-day workweek under a 100-80-100 principle — 100% pay for 80% of hours worked while still meeting 100% of performance targets — in 2022, beginning with the U.S. and Ireland before launching pilots in the UK, Australasia, Portugal, South Africa, and in 2024, Brazil.

As per Statista, when UK employers from 41 participating companies were asked about the likelihood of implementing a four-day workweek on a regular basis, 86% of them said they were extremely likely to do so, with 46% of employers claiming performance was relatively unchanged and 34% claiming job performance actually increased slightly. Better yet, 15% said performance improved significantly. When you consider that some of the highest paying jobs in the U.S. can also be done remotely, it makes good sense to us to explore the compelling case for a four-day workweek.

In a PBS News Weekend interview with Joe O'Connor, the CEO of the Work Time Reduction Center Of Excellence and developer of the international pilot project for the four-day workweek, O' Connor considers pointless meetings and misused or underused technologies — technologies that could instead make workflow more efficient — as time and performance killers that run up costs. While economists worry about what impact generation Alpha joining the workforce will have on the economy, current day businesses need to keep an eye on costs right now. In a quote, O'Connor says, "that most companies today who operate on a five-day, nine-to-five basis could move to a four-day week without necessarily needing to increase headcount and without necessarily damaging their business performance priorities or productivity." He attests the new interest in a 32-hour workweek as a mindset shift influenced by pandemic closures.

Mounting costs in a current climate of layoffs and job fears for huge employers in the U.S. obviously make cost cutting measures and budgetary oversight a necessity. In principle, a four-day workweek should save companies money by getting rid of inefficiencies including utilities, maintenance, janitorial services, and costs associated with coffee and catered meetings. According to corporate caterer Zerocater, the average cost of a catered office lunch is $15 to $20 per person. A company doing away with unnecessary in-person staff meetings could save thousands of dollars a year.  

A 2022 Gallup survey found that 8% of 12,313 full time employees worked six days a week, while 84% said they worked five days a week, up 5% from the previous year. The employees working six days a week experienced burnout at significantly higher rates than those who worked five or four days a week, and while overall wellbeing between four- and five-day workweeks were fairly similar when it came to hybrid remote workplaces — a difference of 1% in favor of four days — the biggest discrepancy was found in fully onsite workplaces where four-day work schedules displayed a thriving sense of wellbeing 8% higher than five-day schedules.

According to News-Medical.Net, the more sedentary or desk related work you do in a day, the higher the incidents of lower back pain and muscle loss due to inactivity and the poor nutrition you are likely to experience. For every two hours we're parked in front of a laptop, our rate of obesity goes up 5% over time, which also hikes up the mortality rate by 7%. Human resource management system isolved found in a 2024 Survey that 64% of employees in 2023 suffered from burnout, 72% of which admitted hampered their job performance. The results from a four-day workweek pilot in the UK conducted by consultancy firm Autonomy found that 39% of employees reported lower stress and 71% fewer incidents of burnout.

Money Digest reported on why companies don't value employee loyalty anymore, and considering this factor makes a push for spending less time at work even more attractive. Can employees spend less time at work and still maintain productivity? In 2019, Microsoft Japan conducted its own four-day workweek experiment called "Work-Life Choice Challenge 2019 Summer" with a goal of raising productivity and creativity. Every Friday in August was an off-day effectively giving employees a long weekend. Employees were paid for the day off and given perks that included reimbursement for family travel, self-development, and contributions to the community. The results were that productivity shot up 39.9% from August 2018.

In the U.S, RV design company Advanced RV launched its own four-day workweek experiment which helped it improve the accuracy of reports and rethink its measures for productivity. In an interview with The Guardian, Advanced RV founder Mike Neundorfer lauded the four-day workweek model by claiming that the company had become more efficient, and after three years working with this model, the company is doing better than it was on a five-day schedule. Company employee Dave McArthur, initially concerned about an increased workload, has grown to appreciate the extra day to just relax and expressed his belief that the company was better organized with improved communication between departments.

As per the BBC, Juliet Schor, the research lead for the 4-Day Week Global test pilot, believes that there are huge and necessary impacts to shortened workweeks for the environment. With travel to and from work during the trial dropping 10% in the UK and 27% in the U.S., people also became more climate conscious and were more likely to engage in sustainable practices and some spent their extra free time volunteering for environmental causes. With data storage in the UK powering the equivalent of 50,000 homes, the lower online usage also provides energy saving, carbon reducing benefits.

After the 2008 financial crisis, when the world found out what happens when the stock market crashes, Utah initiated a state-mandated cost-saving measure for its employees in the form of a four-day, 10 hour day workweek. That led to a significant drop in electricity usage created by things like lighting, elevators, and air conditioning, as well as janitorial services and overtime, amounting to $5.5 million in savings for the state in 2009. State car fleets were off the road more and recovered just over 3 million miles in the first year. While the state scrapped the program in 2011 due to it not saving as much money as the state was banking on, by 2023 different state agencies began implementing their own hybrid remote work models placing four-day work schedules back in the spotlight. 

Stress can manifest itself in your body several different ways. Unexplained aches and pains, headaches, a weakened immune system, and sleeplessness are all potential side effects of feeling overstressed. While the latter may sound relatively benign, a lack of sleep can result in lowered productivity, issues maintaining focus, higher potential for injury, and learning disabilities. It is also associated with serious health issues related to heart, kidney, and mental health.

According to 4-Day Week Global, a UK survey of four-day workweek participants found employees involved in the pilot slept better — 30 minutes to an hour more per night — with 40% who used to have difficulties managing sleep being able to get more rest. As far as stress goes, 39% of employees reported lower stress levels than when on a standard five-day workweek. Whether an instance of the chicken before the egg, there is a clear correlation between more sleep, lower stress, and a 65% decrease in sick days during the UK trials. 

If you're a company worried about what will happen to the workforce when the boomers retire, you might want to consider transitioning to a four-day workweek. A 2023 Bankrate survey revealed that 83% of employees between the ages of 18 and 42 are in favor of four-day workweeks with 92% willing to sacrifice things including shorter working hours, their current job, and even remote work if the hours were right for them. With the rise of ghost jobs caused often by a heavily competitive job market, according to a survey by talent solution company Aerotek, 70% of people looking for work have had to go above and beyond to find employment. While hiring slows down as employers keep watch for signs of a recession, if the most sought after employers are in the market for new employees, they will want to hire the brightest talent.

According to research conducted by HR solutions company Gartner, 87% of human resources professionals say employees want work experiences tailored to their needs, with more flexible hybrid models leading to 40% more productive employees. Embracing different ways of working, including a four-day workweek, is a plus for the next generation of workers. The Harvard Business Review lists four-day workweeks as a trend that will live beyond 2024 and will be a huge selling point for top talent.

It makes sense that companies allowing more time to be spent with spouses, partners, and school age children would be more likely to retain their employees. A 2024 Ford survey found that 77% of employed participants prioritize work-life balance over promotions with 52% willing to take a cut in pay to have it. Where family is concerned, 83% of parents believe their child's mental health is a more important indicator of readiness for adulthood than academic achievement. According to the National Library of Medicine, there's something to that. Incorporating data from a Chinese study from 2017 found that the more time parents spent with their children, the better. As it turns out, allowing more time for children to express their feelings and concerns to parents lowers their stress and improves their well-being.

Juliet Schor, lead researcher for 4-Day Week Global, she explains in a Ted Talk that employees are reclaiming time for family outings like sports or "guilt-free pedicures." Dr. Becky Kennedy, parenting expert and the author of "Good Inside" believes it's a necessity for parents to have alone time, since taking care of your own mental health makes them better adjusted and capable parents. Couples sharing a four-day workweek — with or without kids — could schedule a date every week.