Monday through Friday, 8 hours a day. That is the standard work week for an average American. When looking for a job, people will consider looking for a company that has good benefits, hours, and culture. One way companies are starting to leverage themselves with good hours and a work-life balance is by switching to a 4 day work week.
Instead of working 8 hours a day for 5 days a week they work 10 hours a day for 4 days a week, typically either having Monday or Friday off. Switching to a 4 day work week from a 5 day work week has shown numerous benefits including; employees not taking as much time off, work-life balance, increase productivity, and saving money altogether.
Taking Less Time Off
Scheduling appointments for an average American that works a 5 day work week can be difficult. Doctors offices, dentist offices, etc are only typically open Monday through Friday during regular working hours 9 am to 5 pm. With that said, when employees need to schedule an appointment they typically will take a few hours off of work or even the whole day to go to an appointment.
The benefit of a 4 day work week is employees have that extra day off during the week to schedule those types of appointments. They won't have to take time off during work hours. Another plus to having a 4 day work week is having a three-day weekend. With people having that three-day weekend they are less likely to take time off since they are already getting that extra day off a week.
In 2008, Utah launched a program that had employees work four, 10 hour days and as a result, they found that personal leave and paid time off declined from the year before when they were working 5 days a week.
Work-Life Balance
One of the top benefits of having a 4 day work week, employees are more likely to have a better work-life balance than a typical employee that works 5 days. During that extra day off employees are able to get things done so when Saturday and Sunday roll around they can spend it with there family doing the things they love together instead of running those errands.
Increase Productivity
Building off of that 3 day weekend it gives employees a chance to relax and recharge. So when they come back at the start of the week they are refreshed and ready to get back into the swing of things. According to a study done by Perpetual Guardian when their company switched to a 4 day work week, their employees showed a 20% increase in productivity and a 7% decrease in their stress levels.
Saving Money
Employees, as well as the company, can save money when switching to a 4 day work week. When employees are driving 5 days a week to work gas can get expensive. Gas prices average around $3 to $4 per gallon. Cutting out a daily commute to work a week can save an average person a lot per year.
Another thing that can get expensive is childcare services. Employees that only work 4 days can take that extra day to spend with their children. Daycare on average cost around $12,000 a year. If people didn’t have to pay 4 extra days a month it would save them a lot per year on childcare.
The company itself can save money too. When employees are only working 4 days a week that can save the company money on all overhead costs such as electricity and energy consumption. Employees taking less time off, having a better work-life balance, increasing productivity, and saving money altogether are awesome benefits of switching to a 4 day work week.
Over here at Pulse Marketing, we work a 4/10 schedule and it has worked great for our employees as well as clients. Have you thought about switching your company over to a 4 day week work? Share in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a 4-day work week structure work?
Instead of working 8 hours a day for 5 days, employees work 10 hours a day for 4 days, typically having either Monday or Friday off.
Do employees take less time off with a 4-day work week?
Yes. Employees can schedule appointments like doctor and dentist visits on their extra day off without taking time away from work hours, and the three-day weekend reduces the need for additional time off. Utah's 2008 program showed personal leave and paid time off declined compared to the previous 5-day schedule.
What productivity gains result from a 4-day work week?
According to a study by Perpetual Guardian, employees showed a 20% increase in productivity and a 7% decrease in stress levels after switching to a 4-day week.
How can employees save money with a 4-day work week?
Employees save on gas costs by eliminating one commute per week and can reduce childcare expenses by caring for their children on the extra day off instead of paying for daycare services, which average around 12,000 dollars per year.
Can companies save money by switching to a 4-day work week?
Yes. Companies reduce overhead costs such as electricity and energy consumption when employees are only in the office 4 days per week.