A 4-day workweek is a relatively new concept, brought about largely due to the combination between the recent world pandemia and the huge advancements in technology.
However, some companies are already trialing the idea with promising results for both employees and employers.
Iceland had conducted the world’s biggest pilot of a four-day workweek. Between 2015 and 2019, the country put 2,500 of its public sector workers through two trials.
Crucially, those trials found no corresponding drop in productivity — and a dramatic increase in employee well-being.
What about the private sector? Some companies, like Perpetual Guardian from New Zealand, are already realizing the benefits of a 4-day work. Not only does a 4-day workweek increase employee satisfaction, company commitment and teamwork, but it also decreases stress levels. Even better, reducing employees’ work schedules to a 4-day workweek doesn’t harm their productivity or company output.
Another good case study on the benefits of a four-day workweek was done by Microsoft Japan in the summer of 2019. Employees there worked four days a week while receiving their normal five-day paycheck. The results that they saw speak for themselves.
They reported increased efficiency across the business. Decreased electricity usage, fewer meetings held, and fewer pages printed helped contribute. The company says this all resulted in a 40% productivity boost across the business.
The extra day shows increased productivity, better employee engagement and an equal workplace. And also made space for many workers to take up new hobbies, fulfill long-standing ambitions, or simply invest more time in their relationships.
Are there any disadvantages to a 4-Day workweek?
One part is a management revolution. It is so much easier to manage according to presence rather than performance. You were there for 12 hours. You were there for 14 hours. No matter what you do, you are there, and you get paid for that. That is something old school and no longer valid for a modern company.
Also, working fewer hours for some workers can imply less money. They need to know they’re going to have enough hours to actually make it. So, whatever happens, it is necessary to make sure that everyone is able to work enough hours to have a living wage.
As a bottom line, a 4-day workweek is one viable option as technology (and platforms like Rambox) would make it possible for a business to continue as usual while humans can still have meaningful careers with a better work/life balance.
If your company is looking to increase your productivity and employees want to work less, a four-day workweek could be for you.
