As many companies are struggling to attract talent, they are considering the reduction of a standard 5-day workweek to a 4-day workweek. This article highlights some considerations in that analysis.
The idea and experimentation of a four-day workweek in the United States has been commonly discussed since the 1990s, and given the COVID-19 pandemic and increase of working from home and hybrid office implementation, the discussion of a four-day workweek is picking up even greater traction. Here, we review some high level considerations for any employer considering the switch.
Employer Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek
Not only can employees improve their quality of life, but employers can benefit as well with the reduction of a five-day workweek through:
- Increased sales
- Reduced employee burnout and improved employee retention
- Lower operating costs for an office
- Larger applicant pool for all positions
- Environmental benefits from reduced commuting and traffic congestion
Challenges Relating to a Four-Day Workweek
The change from 40-hour workweeks to 32-hour workweeks could lead to decreased pay and benefits.
10-hour workdays can be incompatible with wage regulations or prove too grueling for employees in some states.
The allowance of four-day workweeks is highly industry specific. For example, hospital employees, fire departments, and police officers taking 3 days off with no coverage seem impracticable. Also, there is a limit on how many items Amazon Warehouse employees can pick per hour and how many delivery locations a UPS driver can hit in a day, therefore possibly making four-day workweeks less efficient.
Strategies Successful Companies Implemented With a Four-Day Workweek
- Prioritize and reevaluate tasks
- Increase automation
- Emphasize human creativity
- Limit work-based social events
- Reduce and shorten meetings
- Set goals that are achievable within a shorter workweek
- Measure outcomes, not hours
- Implement asynchronous work
- Maintain employee pay
- Solicit regular employee feedback