Could a Four-Day Workweek Be On the Horizon?

The four-day workweek has seen no shortage of support in recent years. In fact, there have been projects dedicated to testing it out to see if it has any legs as a concept. One recent, very wide-scale study has concluded that the four-day workweek is indeed quite successful.

Let’s discuss this concept, starting with a few crucial elements that need to be present in order to make the four-day workweek successful.

The Magic Formula: Current, Five Day Pay Rates, for Four Days

This is key to the premise of the four-day work week: while the work week is shortened by a day, your employees will still receive the same amount of pay as though they worked from Monday to Friday. According to the non-profit 4 Day Week Global, which works in support of a four-day workweek, a 100-80-100 model is perfectly attainable. This model frames work as employees getting 100% of tasks completed in 80% of the time, based on 100% productivity.

While this might seem a bit ambitious, 4 Day Week Global has data to back up their philosophy.

The Four-Day Week Has Worked in Practice

Since 4 Day Week Global is, well, global, they have been able to run pilot programs across the world. Businesses and organizations from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and all across Europe and Australia have participated. The results of these programs were largely positive, demonstrating that a four-day approach to work can in fact work.

The UK’s pilot involved over 70 companies across different sectors, totaling 3,300 workers participating. Overall, 95% of the participants reported positive results:

• 46% reported maintained productivity
• 34% reported slight improvements to productivity
• 15% reported significant productivity improvements

Perhaps most impactfully, 86% of the pilot’s participants say that they are considering making the switch a permanent one.

How Can People Produce as Much in Four Days as They Can in Five?

There are a bunch of factors that can go into productivity while cutting back on hours worked. One theory is that the phenomenon of “workplace theater,” or the fine art of looking busy, would be reduced. Another is that a four-day week results in far less burnout amongst a workforce, enabling more consistent productivity and reduced turnover. Microsoft Japan tried the four-day workweek and saw a 40% increase in productivity, so that’s something to consider.

What we’re really saying is that the premise of the four-day workweek is more directly focused on results, rather than the time spent to achieve those results.

A Similar Thing Happened When There Was a Widespread Transition to Remote Work

While I know we don’t need to remind you exactly why remote work suddenly became so popular amongst businesses, the point remains that this major shift revealed that the traditional, in-office working environment wasn’t the only effective way to get work done. The four-day workweek may be the next innovation to shift the paradigm. All it will really take now is the time for executives, higher-ups, and other decision-makers at companies to commit to the change.

In-Office or Remote, We Can Help You Be Productive Five (or Maybe Four) Days a Week

Whether you want to stick with the five-day approach or give the four-day week a try for yourself, BSGtech and our IT services are available to support your endeavors. Give us a call at (866) 546-1004 to learn more.