Working fewer days while delivering the same result sounds tempting to employees, especially since the hybrid working model proved to be successful during and after the pandemic. In these unprecedented times, some adjustment to the new reality came forced; however, the approach appeared to be efficient and has stuck with many companies since while others were enthusiastic to get back to things as they had been before.
A shorter workweek does not work for every company and the reason seems clear. Some jobs are actual efforts 8 hours five days a week, while there are many areas where the work takes 4-5 hours a day and the time left, while paid, brings nothing into the working process. Actually, the idea itself comes from the person who managed to keep productivity while working shorter hours.
Where Did the Concept Come From?
In 2007, Timothy Ferriss, an American author and entrepreneur, published his work called The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. The title sounds tempting indeed, but what do we know about the author?
At the time of working on the book, Ferriss was already successful, ruling his own company. For him, the reduced workweek sounded more like a reasonable adjustment of the working schedule, when his position and the stage of his business development already allowed for shorter work hours. However, when put into practice by others, the approach showed some viable results.
The idea is older than Ferriss’ book though, and can be traced to the early 20th century. In 1956, then Vice President Richard Nixon expressed his desire for Americans to only work four days a week “in the not too distant future.” The now traditional five-day workweek has only been a norm for a recent hundred years, so maybe the time has come to revise it.
The main question is whether 4 days are enough to do the work we usually think of as a five-day task. There’s no simple answer to this, as it hugely depends on the kind of job in question. Can an office worker get it done faster? Most likely, yes, with proper planning. Can a nurse or a fireman do the same? Certainly not. When shifts are in question, a four-day workweek is only possible with more workers to substitute, which isn’t always financially effective.
Is a 4-day workweek really beneficial for employees? With a shorter time to do the job, does the pressure increase exponentially? Is 4 workdays 10 hours long a solution to the time problem? And will people still want to work a four-day week if the day is two hours longer?
All these questions are important and need more practical experience to answer; however, some of the companies that tried a four-day model as an experiment have never come back to a traditional week. So, what are the benefits of a four-day workweek?
Pros of a 4-Day Workweek
The first and most important improvement the shorter workweek brings to employees is a better work-life balance. More time to rest and clear one’s mind, not being behind on errands, and quality family time contribute to better mental health and overall life satisfaction.
But does it benefit employers? Apparently, it does bring some improvement to productivity and creativeness. People who are not overworked, burned out or just bored work better and demonstrate more enthusiasm and involvement.
Studies show, that productivity doesn’t suffer with a four-day week. Some speculations suggested that it might have been the case of the Hawthorne effect in action, which implies the spike in performance was only caused by the novelty and will likely go back to normal as time passes. However, there are studies that confirm the growth in productivity or its stability with the reduced working hours.
To add to the productivity boost that is proved by more than one company, the reduction of operational costs may be a convincing factor as well. Maintaining an office space, including water and electricity expenses, is naturally cheaper for four days than for five.
Another huge benefit for companies is that such flexibility helps attract top talents. In the digital age, there’s no need to be physically present in the office to accomplish most tasks. Highly skilled professionals in demand prefer companies that recognize and embrace the actual state of affairs instead of clinging to outdated practices.
Flexibility may not be seen as something crucial by traditional companies, and it is fine while it works. However, in recent years, the global changes in every single area of our lives have been so drastic and fast that it’s hard to believe a single thing can stay the same. The flexible working model is a huge incentive for quality candidates, and businesses that strive to win the race will have to adopt it sooner or later.
The four-day workweek benefits not only employees and employers. The reduced carbon footprint is something to look up to if we take the safety of our environment seriously. Less commute helps to lower carbon emissions from public transport and cars, contributing to a healthier and cleaner environment.
With all the above, the four-day workweek doesn’t seem very controversial. However, there are some downsides to it as well.
Cons of a 4-Day Workweek
The model is not suitable for every industry. There are jobs that can’t be planned ahead and require constant human presence to be done properly. Basically, any job where working hours are called shifts can’t be done with the same efficiency when working time is reduced. For such jobs, the only way to reduce the workload for employees is to hire more employees, which is not always agreeable with the budget.
Another reason for businesses to stick with the traditional workweek is reduced customer satisfaction caused by restricted availability on the working day.
In some cases, a four-day workweek can also entail additional costs when incomplete tasks require overtime a company needs to compensate.
As you can see, the pros outweigh the cons here, but for many businesses, the risk is not worth it so far. However, there’s another significant factor contributing to making our dream of working less true. Artificial intelligence was announced as a tool to make human lives better, and now is the perfect time to leverage its potential.
How AI is Reshaping Work and Making a Four-Day Week Possible
Artificial intelligence is here to stay and the great turbulence it has caused in many work environments is luckily to come to an end soon. With the balanced approach to using AI for work automation and developing better smart tools for repetitive tasks, it is possible to reduce human involvement in routine.
A lot of work can be done faster and more efficiently with the help of AI and it seems quite possible to get the same results in a shorter time. If so, it’s only sensible to implement a four-day workweek and save on maintenance.
What’s Behind the Resistance?
With all said above, a four-day workweek is not something common so far. Why do some companies refuse to even try?
- Changes are admittedly hard. Even for companies that can and want to provide a four-day workweek, such a transformation requires adjustments and careful planning. Shifting to a shorter workweek isn’t just about cutting a day—it involves restructuring workflows, redefining productivity metrics, and ensuring further efficient collaboration. The time and effort needed for a successful transition are more than many companies are willing to invest.
- Unclear productivity metrics are another factor that keeps businesses from reducing a workweek. Where it’s hard to measure the outcome properly, time comes as a substitute, making longer hours a synonym for higher productivity. Where such an approach is used, the need to reevaluate the metrics slows down the progress, but it isn’t perceived as such as long as the business operates successfully.
- Traditional approach is not something people are willing to break easily.
Though there are some downsides and resistance to the implementation of a shorter workweek, the topic is discussed vividly. Several variations are tested right now, including the 4×10 model and the 9/80 work schedule, where every other Friday is a day off. The perfect solution is yet to be found but the search is certainly happening already.
Conclusion
A traditional workweek of five days has been put in question recently, as our level of technological development seems to be allowing for shorter working hours. While not suitable for every job and business, a four-day workweek is something to give a chance to. It may help to boost productivity, reduce sick leave rates, prevent burnout and minimize stress for employees. There are many successful cases of a shortened workweek implementation that positively affected both employees and employers. While some resistance is understandable, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks so far, creating higher chances for a new norm to come into life soon.
