Pros and Cons of a 4 Day Workweek: Is It Right for You?

Does the thought of a three-day weekend every week fill you with joy? Or does the possibility of only four days to get work done leave you feeling anxious? The idea of a four-day workweek has only grown in popularity over the last few years, but it’s still unclear if that is ideal. Many studies are still being done about how it impacts businesses and staff. Whether a 4 day workweek would work for your company depends on many factors, but these pros and cons may help determine possible next steps. 

The pandemic caused many employers and employees to consider how they work and how they want to work. Many people had to switch to remote working and have yet to come back to the office, finding it saved time and money. With the more flexible approach to in-office work came a natural progression to interrogating the work hours themselves. 

The 40-hour workweek has been a standard for over 80 years, but things look different today. As more tools develop to automate certain tasks, many jobs require fewer hours or don’t need people in the office all the time. Some businesses are looking for ways to adjust accordingly while still providing for employees.

4 Day Workweek Pros

In 2022, the UK ran an extensive study with over 3300 workers and 70 companies participating in trying a four-day workweek. Results showed that over half of employees (51%) believe they can perform their job duties to the best of their ability in 40 hours or less. Additionally, 85% of respondents indicated that a 4 day workweek is feasible. Almost all (94%) surveyed considered a 4 day workweek a positive aspect of their job. Furthermore, about 28% of full-time employees said they would be willing to accept a reduction in pay in exchange for a shorter workweek.

With more studies being done in the States, the idea is unlikely to go anywhere. And there have been plenty of documented pros related to the 4 day workweek.

Reduced Burnout

As expected, people working fewer days are more likely to be rested and less likely to experience burnout. This helps with employee retention, productivity, and creating a positive work culture. With more time off, employees are typically happier and healthier. They spend more time on themselves and cultivating valuable out-of-work lives.

Better Time Usage

When employees have fewer days to work, it tends to help some people buckle down and get more done. They spend their time more wisely, knowing there is less of it to use, and can then spend the extra day on quality time with family and getting needed rest. 

Productivity Increase 

This may not be possible with all jobs, but many companies see a productivity increase when they cut down on hours or days. This sounds counterintuitive, but employees focused more and worked harder during their working hours, resulting in higher productivity than work was spread out. 

Many different countries have run experiments around the 4 day workweek and frequently see productivity increases. An overworked employee has more hours to get tasks done but will move much slower and have less satisfaction while on the job. 

4 Day Workweek Cons

The 4 day workweek sounds great in theory but may not be a good fit for all companies. It also isn’t without its flaws. Some of these may be negotiable or even negligible depending on the business, but they could be insurmountable obstacles for others. 

Schedule Challenges

Some companies need most staff working at the same time, and others can have a more varied schedule. But that can make a 4 day workweek difficult. Do you schedule anyone on the day off? Who gets what days, and does it shift? Workplace cohesion could suffer if you need to spread staff across fewer days and work with lower hours. 

Rearranged Work

While some companies may be able to leverage a shorter work week into the same amount of work, that isn’t feasible for everyone. Although it remains relatively untested in many fields, it’s difficult to imagine someone working as a chef or on an assembly line able to complete as many tasks with fewer hours. With some of these jobs, the pros may outweigh this con since employees will likely be more rested and able to perform at a higher level while on the clock. But lower productivity will cost some companies. 

In some instances, work would need to be reassigned, and that could mean others are picking up the slack left from that extra day off. 

Benefit Changes

Another consideration when contemplating switching to a four-day workweek is the Paid Time Off (PTO) structure. If employees accrue PTO based on the number of hours worked, they may not be pleased to discover that their PTO balance will decrease with a shorter workweek. Employers may need to revamp their entire benefits package, especially those with intricate benefits that may be impacted by reduced work hours. Additionally, the transition to a 4 day workweek may also disrupt pay cycles. 

Switching a payroll system over can add to the complications. But businesses can get help. Willory works with all kinds of businesses to assist in smoothing out the payroll process and optimizing HR systems. 

4 Day Workweek Variety

A 4 day workweek can look different depending on the business and the end goal. For some, that may mean 32 hours a week over four days. Other businesses may work better on a 10-hour day, four days a week. Finding a solution to burnout, low retention rates, and dissatisfaction at work can differ depending on the business. 

If your business is considering this type of shift, consider all the options and which would work best for the company and the employees. 

Toward Progress

Above are only a few of the many impacts a 4-day work week can have on a business. While in some studies, the pros have outweighed the cons; it can be a difficult transition to even consider. If your business is trying to work toward a 4-day work week, make the shift gradually. Possibly start with switching to 10-hour days or moving two weeks out of the month to 4-day work weeks. This will allow you to test out the process and see how it works with your business. Working out all the kinks may take some time, but that will result in a better and smoother transition. 
If you want to try out a new schedule or aren’t sure if it would work, Willory can help. Our HR experts can work with staff to ensure an easy transition with payroll and HR and determine how it may impact certain aspects of your business before you make any significant changes. Switching from five days to four can have a lot of benefits, but it also involves a lot of adjustments. Working with experienced HR experts will help ease that process and benefit your business.