The Four-Day Workweek – Why its Beneficial

The four-day workweek is a hot topic in the business world. Many people believe this would be a much more productive way to work, and some businesses have already made the switch. This blog post will discuss the four-day workweek in detail and explore why it’s becoming a popular option!

What Is a Four-Day Workweek? 

A four-day workweek is a schedule where employees work four days instead of five. The typical hours are still the same (40 hours), but they are spread out over four days instead of five. This usually means that employees have an extra day off each week, which can be used for errands, hobbies, or simply taking some time to relax!

How Can Businesses Implement a Four-Day Workweek?

There are a few different ways that businesses can go about doing this. The most popular option is to have employees work four ten-hour days, which would give them an extra day off each week. Another option is to compress the workweek into four days but keep the same hours (40 hours). This would mean that employees would need to take less time off during the year, but it could also lead to burnout.

Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek

There are several potential benefits, such as:

Increased Productivity

The first advantage of a four-day workweek is the enhanced productivity that most businesses see when implementing quicker weeks. Let’s face it – employees aren’t required to work for eight hours (or more) each day just because they’re on the clock. According to a recent study on workplace productivity, the average employee is productive for just over four hours during an eight-hour shift.

In the case of four-day weeks, productivity is greater than that of a typical five-day week. Remember the Microsoft Japan experiment? After giving its employees Fridays off during their tests, Microsoft reported a 40% rise in production. Andrew Barnes conducted a similar program at Perpetual Guardian and found a 20% boost in employee output.

Reduced Business Expenses

Companies that choose to adopt a four-day workweek may save money by avoiding administrative expenses, commuting costs, employee bonuses, and competitive pay. Office charges, transit subsidies, employee benefits, and competitive salaries can all add up. On top of that, please include:

• Your company’s happy hours
• Lunch specials
• Other expenses that contribute to its culture in your total expenditures

Reduced Carbon Footprint

When global warming and air pollution are top of mind in today’s climate, reducing your carbon footprint is a significant benefit of working only 4 days a week. According to a 2021 study by the 4 Day Week Campaign, instituting a four-day workweek in the United Kingdom would reduce CO2 emissions by 21.3%. According to another research, shorter workweeks may help us lower our carbon footprint, ecological footprint, and CO2 emissions.

Conclusion

The four-day workweek is becoming more popular as businesses look for inventive methods to support their employees’ mental health and happiness. Like many countries and companies have done, running a short-term study to assess the effect on your business is one way to examine the four-day workweek. Consider how you’ll adapt your working processes and expectations if you’re thinking about implementing one at your workplace.

Thinking about starting a four-day workweek at a new coworking space? Check out the workspaces La Collective Cowork has to offer here.