The shift to a 4 day work week has been gaining momentum since 2022, and for good cause. As an answer for individuals struggling attributable to pandemic-related stress, office stress, overwork and burnout, and the pressures of each day lives, 4 day work weeks can be a part of the reply.
And 4 day work week experiments are not occurring in a vacuum by progressive firms. CNN named it one of many 9 most necessary new concepts in enterprise. Globally, nationwide governments have even sponsored trials of 4 day weeks.
And 4 day work weeks don’t simply affect staff’ well-being, research have proven there are social, financial, and local weather advantages, along with a optimistic impact on the corporate’s backside line.
On this put up, we’ll outline the 4 day work week, element the positives, and share our personal expertise adopting this mannequin, together with poignant recommendation from our CEO to firms hoping to emulate our instance.
Compressed vs Lowered 4 Day Work Weeks
To be clear, we’re speaking a few decreased 4 day work week.
A 4 day work week will be described in two methods: compressed and decreased. A compressed work week divides a 35+ hour workload over 4 days with the identical wage and advantages as a standard five-day work week. A decreased work week removes eight hours from the worker schedule, lowering complete working hours to 32 per week over 4 days with the identical wage and advantages as a standard full-time place.
The 4 Day Work Week Is Undeniably Constructive: for Us and the Planet
Analysis performed by the non-profit group 4 Day Week International exhibits the clear advantage of a 4 day work week mannequin. The group studied 33 firms in 6 totally different international locations that decreased their worker’s workload to 4 days (32 hours per week) throughout a six-month trial. The experiment questioned whether or not staff might be as productive in 20 % much less time on the similar pay. The outcomes have been astonishingly optimistic.
Corporations revealed a income enhance of 8.14 % through the trial, and an unbelievable 37.55 % enhance in comparison with the identical six-month interval the earlier yr. New hires elevated by 12.16 % over the course of the trial. Maybe much more unbelievable, these outcomes got here through the “Nice Resignation,” a time in 2022 when employees have been quitting their jobs at report charges attributable to burn-out, need for a greater work-life stability, and feeling that their jobs weren’t assembly their expectations.
Worker satisfaction was at an all-time excessive through the trial, with 96.9 % saying they undoubtedly needed to proceed having a 4 day work week. They reported a decline in stress and burn-out, elevated productiveness, and better job satisfaction. Staff have been capable of spend extra time with household and pals, sleep higher, and enhance time spent exercising.
A decreased work week has additionally confirmed important environmental, financial, and social advantages. Carbon emissions lower with much less commuting and staff socialize extra with a three-day weekend. In flip, this helps companies and, in some international locations, desired inhabitants progress. Japan, for instance, has traditionally had an intense working tradition: “karoshi,” a time period which means “dying from overwork,” was coined within the Nineteen Seventies. Nonetheless, the nation not too long ago launched new pointers to encourage firms to make a shift to a 4 day work week in an effort to encourage a more healthy work-life stability. Japan hopes that anticipating the additional break day will push residents to spice up the financial system by spending extra money, and even result in elevated marriage and start charges.
Why We Jumped On Board the 4 Day Development
On account of the pandemic, many firms are placing work-life stability entrance and heart, and a 4 day work week generally is a enormous a part of that effort. With happier, well-rested staff, firms see a rise in earnings and productiveness, and giving staff extra flexibility — decreased hours and distant/hybrid work preparations — helps retain the staff members they’ve invested money and time into coaching. As evidenced by job websites like 4DayWeek.io, worker demand for the 4 day work week is excessive.
At SPI, a 4 day, decreased work week was applied to start with of 2022 throughout a trial interval. The outcomes from the staff aligned with the worldwide examine cited above. Staff reported they have been extra motivated and productive, accomplished duties on deadline, supported one another extra, and felt a stronger sense of connection throughout the staff. Staff additionally took the additional time to select up new hobbies, train extra, full housekeeping forward of time, and have extra high quality time with household and pals. Unsurprisingly, we’ve determined to maintain the 4 day work week in place completely.
“Don’t Rush It”
The 4 day work week has undeniably been a house run for Workforce SPI. So what would we advocate to different firms hoping to comply with go well with? Right here’s what our CEO, Matt Gartland, needed to say about it:
“As Uncle Ben famously stated to younger Peter Parker, ‘with nice energy comes nice accountability.’
“The 4 day work week is a superb energy for the trendy office. It is a real aggressive benefit in addition to an embodiment of necessary cultural values. It is undeniably the way forward for work, particularly for these of us who run remote-based firms with distributed groups. It could possibly foster nearer togetherness throughout the staff. It could possibly nurture extra dedication to the mission of the corporate at giant.
That is all actually superior. It is also actually severe.
The other of these outcomes is feasible with a hasty implementation. Particulars are essential to outline and align on expectations for the way the 4 day work week goes to truly work in addition to how its effectiveness goes to be evaluated. Here is the massive one: Below what circumstances may the 4 day work week be deemed to be ineffective and thus topic to rollback?
At SPI, we devoted a number of time and power to defining our tackle a 4 day work week. This system particulars have been the topic of energetic conversations with the staff. Those self same working particulars have been codified formally into our governing worker handbook. This course of took months. That is the way you deal with this superior alternative with the respect it deserves.
So lean into it. It is value it. Simply do not rush it.”
Staff are happier to work for an organization the place they really feel valued and appreciated. It’s unlikely that the world will make the shift to a 4 day work week in a single day, however firms are realizing that to retain staff and appeal to new workers they should embrace a more healthy work-life stability. The momentum behind the 4 day work week continues, and we’re eager to see what optimistic, compounding results it reveals.
