After the last few years, more and more people are beginning to question the traditional 5-day workweek. Why are we tethered to our desks for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? Is there a better way? It turns out, the answer may be a resounding “yes.”
A 4-day workweek has been gaining traction in recent years as employers begin to realize the many benefits it offers. Better employee retention rates, increased productivity, and reduced overhead costs are just a few of the reasons why the 4-day workweek is gaining popularity. However, there are still many employers who are reluctant to offer this benefit to their employees. Let’s take a closer look at why that is and see if we can’t change their minds.
Employers Are Wary
The primary reason employers are reluctant to offer a 4-day workweek is that they believe it will lead to decreased productivity. After all, if employees are only working 4 days a week, that must mean they’re getting less done, right? Wrong. In fact, studies have shown that employees who work a 4-day week are actually more productive than their 5-day counterparts. How can this be?
It turns out that when employees have an extra day off, they feel more rested and relaxed, which leads to increased focus and concentration when they are at work. In addition, employees who have a 3-day weekend have more time to take care of personal errands and obligations, which reduces distractions and improves focus during the workweek.
So if employees are more productive when working a 4-day week, what’s holding employers back?
Despite the common belief that a shorter workweek would lead to less stress, a 4-day workweek can actually be more stressful. With schedule shifts and the need to compress 5 days of work into 4, workers may feel like they’re always playing catch-up. In addition, the compressed workweek can lead to disruptions in employees’ personal lives.
Employer Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek
In addition to increased productivity, there are several other employer benefits of moving to a 4-day workweek. Perhaps the most significant benefit is reduced overhead costs. With fewer employee hours worked each week, employers can save on things like electricity and office supplies. In addition, employers can save on labor costs by hiring fewer employees to cover the same amount of hours.
In today’s competitive job market, offering employees a 4-day workweek is also an excellent way to attract and retain top talent. Workers today value flexibility and work-life balance more than ever before, and offering a 4-day workweek is an excellent way to show that your company is committed to its employees’ well-being. Finally, shorter workweeks have been shown to lead to lower stress levels and fewer absences due to illness, both of which can save your company money in the long run.
Your Staff Benefits Too
Of course, it’s not just employers who stand to benefit from shorter workweeks—employees do too! In addition to having more time for leisure activities and personal errands, employees who work a 4-day week also enjoy better mental and physical health thanks to reduced stress levels. In fact, one study even found that workers who had an extra day off each week were less likely to suffer from burnout.
In addition to improved mental and physical health, employees also enjoy increased productivity thanks to the extra day off each week. As we mentioned before, having an extra day off allows employees to take care of personal errands and obligations so that they can fully focus on their work when they are in the office.
How to Move Forward
A four-day workweek for a 40-hour employee would look something like this: Monday through Thursday, the employee would work 10 hours per day. Friday would be a day off. This schedule would give the employee three full days off each week, while still allowing them to work a full 40 hours over the course of four days. This could be an attractive option for employees who value having more time outside of work, or who need to care for children or other family members.
The biggest catch for some people will be the hours. Some of your staff may balk at working longer days. If that’s the case, you can always make it optional.
PDF editors make it easy to update employee contracts for 4-day workweeks. With a PDF editor, you can simply open the contract document, make the necessary changes, and then save the document. This is a quick and easy way to update employee contracts without having to reprint or retype the entire document. PDF editors also allow you to add new pages or delete existing pages from the contract document, which can be handy if you need to make significant changes to the contract. Best of all, PDF editors are available for free, so you can update your employee contracts without spending a dime.
And there you have it! Making the switch to a four-day workweek is simple and beneficial for both employers and employees alike. Go ahead and give it try! Your team will thank you for it.