Today, more and more organizations are embracing a four-day workweek in order to improve employee engagement, increase productivity, and reduce costs. In fact, more than 60% of US companies plan to adopt a four-day workweek in the next three to five years.

Before you get excited about working fewer hours and spending less time at the office, know that the shift from Monday through Friday to a four-week schedule can prove challenging for some employees. Here’s why adopting a four-day work week is so controversial — and what you need to know before making the change.

what are four days work week?

In the future, employees will work four days a week and use their fifth day off. This schedule is becoming more and more common in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) – especially in countries where Friday is considered a day of rest. With more people wanting to try out a four-day workweek, companies should be prepared for the shift.

While it’s unclear whether the trend will catch on in the United States, we can potentially expect more companies to start offering four-day work weeks. In the future, employees will work four days a week and use their fifth day off. we can potentially expect more companies to start offering four-day work weeks.

what went wrong with 5 days work week

For a long time, the five-day workweek was seen as the way to go. With the rise of smartphones, people no longer needed to be available to the office on a set schedule. It was thought that people could be more productive and receive higher salaries with a set schedule that allowed for more (but shorter) work hours.

However, research has shown that this model was flawed. More than 40% of employees felt stressed or overworked by the five-day workweek, and it was found that companies were not able to generate more income or productivity from the additional time.

More and more companies have understood the truth behind the five-day workweek and have decided to bring work back to the traditional Monday-to-Friday schedule. By doing so, they’ve been able to increase employee engagement and reduce stress — while still allowing some flexibility if employees require it.

how is the US big four companies responsible for the new trend?

When companies began to understand the negative aspects of the five-day workweek, they decided to take matters into their own hands. Rather than waiting for the trend to change, they started experimenting with a four-day workweek in order to see if it yielded any benefits.

Some of the world’s leading companies have adopted a four-day workweek, including Netflix, Facebook, and Google. By doing so, these companies have been able to increase productivity and save money — without decreasing the amount of vacation time that their employees receive.

can the company generate more income and productivity from 4 days of work?

While the four-day workweek is not a magic bullet to solve all of the company’s problems, it is a helpful tool. By shortening the work week, companies can save on a variety of costs, including salary, benefits, and vacation time.

If a company implements a four-day workweek, it should examine its business model and determine if the change is necessary. If it is, the company should assess if and how it will be able to generate more income and productivity from the additional time.

Merits and Demerits of 4 day work week

The research on the four-day workweek is positive. By shortening the work week, companies can save on a variety of costs, including salary, benefits, and vacation time.

Here are the benefits:-

Cost Savings

About 55% of respondents to a survey of company executives on the four-day workweek’s cost-effectiveness claimed cost reductions. These monies cover transportation costs as well as building rent. A little over two-thirds of respondents also mentioned higher staff productivity.

Immediately, switching to a four-day workweek reduces variable overhead costs like power and energy use by 25%. The US Energy Information Association estimates that in 2018, the average monthly cost of business power was $700. A 25% expense reduction would result in savings.

Less Downtime

Employees might arrange personal needs on that extra day off during regular company hours or work as freelancers. As a consequence, they are able to vacation or work as freelancers for their clients on their customary day off without missing any work. The same poll finds that 62% of corporate leaders say fewer sick days are being taken.

Increased Productivity

According to a study, a four-day workweek could increase productivity as some companies implement 12 hours of the working day, due to this there will be better productivity, output, and employee satisfaction.

Demerits:- 

Scheduling Conflicts

Salaried employees working constrained time schedules, such as four days of 10 hours each, should be expected to function and produce at a standard level.

Hourly employees who adhere to this schedule, however, run the danger of receiving overtime compensation if they are required to report to work on their regularly scheduled day off.

Once workers have put in eight hours in a shift, several states mandate overtime. These non-exempt workers may get 8 hours of overtime compensation per week if their workweek is reduced to 4 10-hour days. To minimize the expense of overtime, you’ll need to be cautious while scheduling.

Added stress
Whether or not hours are shortened, a 4-day work week has a variety of drawbacks. People can only focus and work productively for a certain amount of time during 10-hour workdays before diminishing returns start to occur. A timetable that is overclocked is also a fast track to burnout.

Might not work for every employee

 If a company implements a four-day workweek, it should examine its business model and determine if the change is necessary. If it is, the company should assess if and how it will be able to generate more income and productivity from the additional time.

While the research on the four-day workweek is positive, it’s not all roses. The schedule is not for everyone, and it can be challenging for some employees. If a company implements a four-day workweek, it should examine its business model and determine if the change is necessary. If it is, the company should assess if and how it will be able to generate more income and productivity from the additional time.

what is the response of employees on four days work week?

Researchers found that employees felt less stressed and received more vacation time when implementing a four-day workweek. In addition, employees were more engaged at work, boosted their productivity, and took pride in their jobs. Overall, employees were interested in the four-day workweek, with more than two-thirds reported being open to the idea.

If a company has been looking at the possibility of instituting a four-day workweek, it would make sense for employees to be open to the idea because it means an improved work-life balance.

Feedback on 4 day work week implemented by companies

A lot of companies have implemented a 4 or 5-day work week in recent years. It’s a new way of thinking about work, and most people are not used to it. While there are challenges, there are also many benefits to a shorter work week, including lower stress levels and a better work-life balance.

One of the biggest challenges for companies is finding a way to boost employee engagement and engagement levels without lower productivity. That means the 4-day work week needs to be implemented carefully, and companies need to use it as a test to see how their employees respond.