Causes.com
| 12.2.22

New Trials Find a Four-Day Workweek to Be Successful - Are You Interested?

Do you want a four-day workweek?

What’s the story?

  • New trials of a four-day workweek have been called “a resounding success.” Almost all companies who attempted the shorter week are now planning to implement it moving forward. 
  • In Ireland, 12 companies ran the 6-month trial, and all their employees universally praised the new schedule. They reported reduced stress, burnout, and fatigue, along with better sleeping habits, more time for hobbies, and even excitement to get back to work. 
  • In the U.S., the majority of the involved companies said they’re likely never going back to a five-day workweek. 97% of employees in the U.S. said they wanted to continue with their four days of work. 100% of Irish employees voted to continue a four-day week.
  • The companies that took part did not reduce pay to their employees. The trial found that company earnings increase during a shorter workweek, with average revenue rising 38%, according to the trial’s survey. 

What are experts saying? 

  • Juliet Schor, a professor of sociology at Boston College and a lead researcher of the trial, said that employees did not report an increase in the intensity of their work during those four days. She continued: 

“This suggests that the work reorganization strategy succeeded and performance was not achieved via [speeding up], which is neither sustainable nor desirable.”

  • John Leland, a chief strategy officer at Kickstarter, stated that the trial was a win-win for employees and employers. He said:

“The 4-day week has been transformative for our business and our people. Staff are more focused, more engaged and more dedicated, helping us hit our goals better than before.”

  • Dr. Orla Kelly, a professor at the University College Dublin, said the research provided critical insights into the future of work in Ireland. 

“We found significant improvements across a wide range of well-being metrics, including positive affect, work-family and work-life balance, and several domains of life satisfaction.”

What’s to come for the four-day workweek?

  • Another six-month trial in the United Kingdom was completed in November, with the results due in February. This trial included 70 companies and 3,300 workers, which is the world’s most extensive workweek trial to date.
  • Calls to shorten the workweek have increased recently, especially after the initial COVID shutdown in 2020. As millions were forced to stay home and work remotely, many realized they could do their jobs from the comfort of their homes. With most of the world back in person, many are pushing for more remote hours. 
  • The project was carried out by Four-Day Week, a non-profit organization trying to spark a four-day workweek worldwide. Learn more about their mission here. 

 

Do you want a four-day workweek?

 

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo credit: iStock/PeopleImages)