Transforming Work: The Case for a 4-Day Workweek
Written on
Chapter 1: The Shift Towards a 4-Day Workweek
In my decade-long journey assisting businesses, governments, and communities in becoming healthier environments for living and working, I've come to a crucial realization. More often than not, achieving our objectives isn't about adding new elements but rather simplifying existing ones. For instance, I've collaborated with insurance companies to deliver more coverage using fewer resources and helped transportation firms enhance their services with a reduced fleet.
During this journey, I encountered Juliet Schor, an economist and sociologist from Boston College, who has observed a similar trend in an unexpected context.
This paragraph will result in an indented block of text, typically used for quoting other text.
Section 1.1: Reevaluating Our Relationship with Work
In her TED talk and discussions, Juliet Schor emphasizes the importance of looking at work from a historical perspective:
“I came across a fascinating study that analyzed the hourly activities of hunter-gatherer societies. One striking finding was that they spent about 20% of their time doing absolutely nothing. This wasn't merely leisure; it was genuine downtime.” (Schor, 2022)
Why do we continually reference the mid-19th century, an era marked by the longest working hours in history, when discussing work hours?
Subsection 1.1.1: The Overworked American
In her book, The Overworked American (1992), Schor discusses the evolution of work hours since the industrial revolution:
“It was a time when people enjoyed numerous holidays, and the average medieval peasant worked about a thousand hours a year. It’s surprising how often this fact circulates on social media, with people expressing disbelief that prior generations didn’t toil constantly, despite their poverty.” (Schor, 2022)
However, over time, humans became cogs in the relentless machinery of the industrial age, which eliminated any perceived inefficiencies in how we spent our time.
Section 1.2: The Catalyst for Change in New Zealand
Andrew Barnes may not have been the first to implement a 4-day workweek, but he certainly garnered significant media attention. Inspired by an article suggesting that the average employee only works two to three hours a day, he decided to transition his company to a 4-day workweek. Collaborating with a researcher from the University of Auckland, he examined the outcomes, which turned out remarkably well: employee happiness soared, revenue increased, and the company attracted better talent.
Barnes became so enthusiastic about this model that he initiated a global movement known as Four Day Week Global, with Schor as a leading researcher. Organizations voluntarily participated in trials, receiving guidance on implementation while my team studied the results from both corporate and employee perspectives, focusing on economic, social, and environmental impacts. The initial findings are now emerging.
Chapter 2: The Impact of a 4-Day Workweek
5 Benefits of a 4-Day Workweek
These advantages are drawn from Juliet Schor’s insights during her TED talk.
Enhanced Productivity
Research indicates that employees can complete their work in 80% of the time traditionally allotted. This suggests that output levels remain consistent with those of a five-day week, thanks to the reduction of unproductive time. If both employers and employees agree to eliminate low-efficiency activities, the exchange for an extra day off becomes feasible, fostering a more motivated and efficient work ethic.
Improved Task Prioritization
Beyond cutting slack time, the 4-day workweek encourages a focus on essential tasks. Granting employees the autonomy to schedule meetings significantly alters productivity dynamics. Microsoft Japan observed a 40% surge in productivity after revising its meeting practices. By rethinking the frequency and duration of meetings, organizations can save valuable time and energy.
Long-Term Resilience Investment
As workers reach peak efficiency, job dissatisfaction and burnout have reached alarming rates. This pressure, stemming from heightened efficiency across various sectors, has led to adverse effects in professions such as teaching and healthcare. Trials in Sweden that reduced nurses' working hours to six per day yielded substantial savings in healthcare and unemployment costs. Transitioning to a 32-hour workweek promotes healthier, happier employees and curtails expenses related to sick leave and recruitment.
Promotes Work-Life Balance
A paid day off each week allows individuals to recharge. Studies reveal that employees often utilize their free day for errands and personal appointments, not merely leisure. This structured time off enables them to manage their responsibilities more effectively.
Environmental Benefits
The advantages extend beyond personal well-being to our planet's health. Schor notes that reduced working hours correlate with a smaller carbon footprint. This is partly due to decreased commuting and partly because more free time encourages sustainable living. By not working three days a week, individuals gain the mental bandwidth to adopt more eco-friendly lifestyles.
We Created the 40-Hour Workweek
A critical takeaway from Schor's research is the realization that we constructed the 40-hour workweek ourselves. The rise of industrial capitalism, alongside plantation agriculture, led to a dramatic increase in labor hours. By the late 19th century, average workweeks stretched to 60 hours, with minimal holidays. Labor unions fought to eliminate Sunday work, paving the way for the five-day week and the Fair Labor Standards Act, which established the 40-hour week as the standard. (Schor, 2022)
Given today's automation advancements and the societal benefits of reduced work hours, what barriers prevent us from transitioning to a 4-day workweek?
If you found this information valuable, consider showing your support by engaging with this content or sharing your thoughts in the comments section.
Since 2012, I have co-founded three companies leveraging the sharing economy and collaborated with public and private sector clients across more than 25 countries to enhance their offerings sustainably. Through years of practical research and numerous publications, I am dedicated to finding the most effective ways for individuals and organizations to thrive in our evolving world.
In this insightful video, Juliet Schor discusses how the four-day workweek is not just a benefit but a significant improvement in performance.
Discover the various advantages of a four-day workweek in this enlightening video.