The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day Work Week
Eight hours a day, five days a week… For many employees across Britain and Europe, this way of working is so deeply entrenched, that any alternative used to seem completely unrealistic. However, the pandemic and shift to remote, hybrid and flexible work, particularly across marketing, communications and digital has started to change our perceptions about the workplace. Following a successful trial in Iceland, campaigners have been calling to further revolutionise the conventional work week.
The concept of a four-day work week is easy – full-time employees reduce their work week, by one day with no reduction in salary.
One way of implanting this sees compressed working hours, where the length of each shift is extended so that the number of hours worked does not change, but the employees get to enjoy a longer break. The second model is much more radical – the working week is reduced, but the staff are not expected to make the time, reducing the working week to an average of 32 hours (as opposed to the current 40).
Benefits of the Four-Day Working Week
For any professional working in communications, marketing or digital, the appeal is clear – less time at the desk, with no reduction of income. As those industries have already proved to be incredibly adaptable, extending the weekend could contribute to better work-life balance and help to reduce stress and burnout.
Increased Productivity
It is not a surprise that overworked employees are significantly less efficient than those working a regular or average working week. Based on a trial study in New Zealand, during a four-