Lili Dewrance – Freelance Marketing Consultant

Embracing the Four-Day Workweek: Why It’s Good for Businesses and Employees

In today’s business world, the traditional five-day workweek is no longer the norm. More and more businesses are embracing the four-day workweek, and there are good reasons why. For employees, a four-day workweek means better work-life balance. For employers, it can lead to improved productivity and employee retention. In this blog post, we’ll explore the advantages of the four-day workweek and some of the challenges you may face when implementing it in your business.

Workers Want a Better Balance

It’s no secret that workers today want better work-life balance. In a survey of 2,000 full-time employees conducted by Owl Labs, 72% of respondents said they would leave their current job for one that offered better work-life balance. And it’s not just millennials who feel this way; workers across all generations say they want more flexible working arrangements.

There are several reasons why workers want a better work-life balance. One is that we’re living longer and healthier lives and therefore want to enjoy our time outside of work more. Another reason is that technology has made it possible to work from anywhere at any time, so there’s less need to be tethered to a traditional office 9-5 schedule. Whatever the reasons may be, it’s clear that workers today value their time outside of work and are looking for ways to achieve a better balance between their personal and professional lives.

What Can Employers Do?

So what does this shift mean for employers? How can you embrace a four-day workweek in your business? For starters, you’ll need to be open to changing the way you’ve always done things. If you’re used to having your employees in the office from 9 am to 5 pm, five days a week, it may be hard to let go of that structure. But if you’re open to change and willing to think outside the box, there are a number of ways you can adapt the four-day workweek for your business.

One option is to compress your employees’ hours into four longer days instead of five shorter ones. For example, instead of having employees work 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday, you could have them work 7 am to 5 pm Monday through Thursday. This option may not be ideal for all businesses, but it’s worth considering if you’re open to being flexible with your employees’ schedules.

Another option is to let employees choose which four days they want to work each week. This option gives employees more control over their schedules and allows them to accommodate their personal lives outside of work. Of course, this option requires a bit more trust on the part of employers since they won’t always know where their employees are or what they’re doing during working hours. But if you have faith in your team and trust that they’ll get their work done no matter where they are or what time it is, this could be a great option for your business.

There Are Some Downsides

Of course, there are some disadvantages to implementing a four-day workweek in your business. One downside is that it can be disruptive to established team dynamics and dynamics between managers and subordinates. If everyone isn’t on board with the change, it can lead to conflict within teams as well as feelings of resentment among those who preferred the old way of doing things.

Another downside is that a four-day workweek can lead to longer hours during each working day. If employees are working 10 hours instead of eight, that means they’ll need to cram a week’s worth of work into those 10 hours instead of spreading it out over five eight-hour days. This can lead to burnout among employees who feel like they can never get ahead or take a break during working hours.

Easily Make Contract Adjustments

If you decide to make the switch to a four-day workweek, you’ll likely need to make updates to staff contracts. PDF editors can be a valuable tool in this process, as they allow you to quickly and easily make changes to documents. For example, you can use a PDF editor to add language specifying that employees will only be required to work four days per week and to update any attendance policies or holiday days. 

Switching from a five-day workweek to a four-day model can be beneficial for both employers and employees alike, but it’s not without its challenges. If you’re considering making the switch for your business, it’s important to weigh both the pros and the cons before making a decision. And remember, if you do decide to try out a four-day workweek, be prepared to commit to the time to make the transition as smooth as possible for you and your employees.