Many companies around the world are experimenting with the four-day workweek; some are asking their employees to work the normal working hours four days a week, while others pack a 40 hours workweek into four days. Whatever the strategy, the idea is catching on, but what are the benefits, and challenges?
On the positive side, employees are generally more engaged and productive, have lower stress levels, and have a better work-life balance with more time to run necessary personal errands. Employers have noted an up to 40% increase in productivity, as well as considerable cost savings related to the extra day off: lower costs of absenteeism, such as sick days and any pay relating to that, as well as lower costs of utilities, relating to opening the office five days a week. Less stressed employees also reduce the risk and cost of employee turnover. Eventually, this can also lead to increased profits for the company.
At the same time, some employees can be more stressed having to complete their work in a shorter time frame, while others work longer hours during the four days, and highly customer-facing jobs or companies, can be difficult to balance with the day off. Not all industries, such as finance, construction, are well positioned to implement a four-day work week, as their revenue is tied to external factors.
How to tackle this? One option is to for employees to rotate the day-off, avoiding a full-scale shut-down for the extra day, or to start implementing the four-day workweek every other week. Overall, there are clear benefits of the shortened workweek, and happy employees make a happy employer, so everyone win.
Source: e27
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May 04, 2021
