Four-day workweek

A four-day workweek is an arrangement where a workplace or place of education has its employees or students work or attend school, college or university over the course of four days per week rather than the more customary five-day workweek.[1] This arrangement can be a part of flexible working hours, and is sometimes used to cut costs.

The four-day week movement has grown considerably in recent years, with increasing numbers of businesses and organisations around the world trialling and moving permanently to a four-day working week of around 32 hours, with no less pay for workers. Most of these businesses and organisations have involved white collar work, and found that a four-day week is a win-win for employees and employers, as trials have indicated that it leads to a better work-life balance, lower stress-levels, and increased productivity, mainly by eliminating wasted work time. An overwhelming majority of studies report that a four-day week leads to increased productivity and decreased stress, though experts question whether this arrangement is possible in blue collar work, where there may be little wasted time, or workers would be required to work faster to maintain the same productivity, potentially increasing stress levels and decreasing safety.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference rex2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Booth, Robert (February 19, 2019). "Four-day week: trial finds lower stress and increased productivity". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Timsit, Annabelle (February 21, 2023). "A four-day workweek pilot was so successful most firms say they won't go back". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference MP_2023-09-21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).