Should the standard workweek be four days?

Rob (No)

A four-day workweek may seem appealing, but there are many compelling reasons why it’s impractical and should never be the standard. First on the list is the negative effect it would have on the economy, as experts warn. Reducing working days without increasing working hours per day may not guarantee higher productivity, resulting in decreased economic productivity. 

Secondly, four-day workweeks may be more expensive for other sectors, especially smaller businesses that lack the resources to hire more personnel for the uncovered hours. These businesses would be obligated to pay their employees 100% of their salaries for only 80% of the time, leading to increased operational costs and lower profit margins, if any at all. 

While on paper the four-day workweek should afford workers extra time to engage in community and leisure activities, it would also result in reduced wages for employees who are paid hourly. This would force them to seek extra sources of income on their days off, resulting in even more burnout. According to a study, 87% of workers say they’d work longer hours for a three-day weekend, but also agree swapping that for a smaller payday isn’t an option.

In addition, the purported benefits of a four-day workweek may be more illusion than reality, if the study conducted by Myron D. Fottlery is anything to go by. Most respondents initially preferred a four-day workweek, probably due to its newness and perceived benefits. However, after six months of adoption, the approval rating dropped, and only 56% of the employees voted to continue with the program, demonstrating that the four-day workweek would only be a temporary delight. Based on this alone, the standard workweek should remain as we know it now.

Sam (Yes)

A four-day workweek benefits a company’s employees and positively affects employers and the company as a whole! The four-day workweek minimizes burnout among employees, giving them an extra day to engage in recreational activities and general self-care. Work-related stress is shown to contribute significantly to both mental and physical ailments. Thus, a reduced workweek is one way to make sure employees are happy, healthy, and motivated to produce high-quality work. Likewise, productivity does not suffer due to the reduced workweek. In fact, a more balanced schedule can increase productivity as employees are pushed to use all of their time to do meaningful work efficiently rather than passively complete tasks while waiting to clock out. Companies also benefit from this because there is less unproductive time they have to worry about filling, a constant concern in the business world. Additionally, one less day at the office means fewer resources are needed to maintain office spaces, so companies see fewer utility and operational costs. More money is always a win for businesses and employees alike. 

Finally, a four-day workweek affirms a company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as it allows them to accommodate workers who might have responsibilities outside of work, such as students and caregivers—the latter representing a large percentage of workers. By enabling these employees to continue to do good work in the office without neglecting their other necessary duties, companies benefit from a larger pool of potential employees and reap the rewards of having well-rounded workers who are not burned out, but are instead rested and ready to go!