The shift to a 4 day work week has been gaining momentum since 2022, and for good purpose. As an answer for individuals struggling as a result of pandemic-related stress, office stress, overwork and burnout, and the pressures of every 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 essential new concepts in enterprise. Globally, nationwide governments have even sponsored trials of 4 day weeks.

And 4 day work weeks don’t simply impression workers’ 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 publish, 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 couple of decreased 4 day work week.

A 4 day work week could 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, decreasing 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 good thing about a 4 day work week mannequin. The group studied 33 firms in 6 totally different nations that decreased their worker’s workload to 4 days (32 hours every week) throughout a six-month trial. The experiment questioned whether or not workers may very well be as productive in 20 % much less time on the identical pay. The outcomes have been astonishingly optimistic. 

Firms revealed a income enhance of 8.14 % throughout the trial, and an unbelievable 37.55 % enhance in comparison with the identical six-month interval the earlier 12 months. New hires elevated by 12.16 % over the course of the trial. Maybe much more unbelievable, these outcomes got here throughout the “Nice Resignation,” a time in 2022 when employees have been quitting their jobs at file charges as a result of burn-out, need for a greater work-life steadiness, and feeling that their jobs weren’t assembly their expectations.

Worker satisfaction was at an all-time excessive throughout the trial, with 96.9 % saying they undoubtedly wished 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 in a position to spend extra time with household and mates, 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 workers socialize extra with a three-day weekend. In flip, this helps companies and, in some nations, desired inhabitants development. Japan, for instance, has traditionally had an intense working tradition: “karoshi,” a time period that means “loss of life from overwork,” was coined within the Seventies. Nevertheless, the nation lately 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 steadiness. Japan hopes that anticipating the additional break day will push residents to spice up the economic system by spending extra money, and even result in elevated marriage and beginning charges. 

Why We Jumped On Board the 4 Day Pattern

On account of the pandemic, many firms are placing work-life steadiness entrance and middle, and a 4 day work week generally is a enormous a part of that effort. With happier, well-rested workers, firms see a rise in earnings and productiveness, and giving workers 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 mates. 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 Group SPI. So what would we suggest to different firms hoping to observe go well with? Right here’s what our CEO, Matt Gartland, needed to say about it:

“As Uncle Ben famously mentioned to younger Peter Parker, ‘with nice energy comes nice duty.’ 

“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 essential cultural values. It is undeniably the way forward for work, particularly for these of us who run remote-based firms with distributed groups. It might probably foster nearer togetherness throughout the staff. It might probably nurture extra dedication to the mission of the corporate at massive.

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 a way the 4 day work week goes to really work in addition to how its effectiveness goes to be evaluated. Here is the massive one: Below what situations may the 4 day work week be deemed to be ineffective and thus topic to rollback?

At SPI, we devoted a variety of time and power to defining our tackle a 4 day work week. This system particulars have been the topic of lively 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 price 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 workers and entice new employees they should embrace a more healthy work-life steadiness. The momentum behind the 4 day work week continues, and we’re eager to see what optimistic, compounding results it reveals.