It's time for a 4 day work week

[Nomad4Ever]

In the largest-ever experiment of its kind, 33 companies adopted a four-day workweek. The results were conclusive: It's time for everyone to take Fridays off.

A real-world experiment of 33 companies found that productivity, revenue, and employee well-being improved with a four-day workweek.

www.businessinsider.com

The latest, perhaps most convincing evidence yet for the shift to a four-day workweek comes from a six-month trial which began in February 2022 in which 33 companies with employees in six countries decreased their employees' workload to four days, or 32 hours, a week. Organized by 4 Day Week Global, the real-world experiment sought to see whether the employees could be just as productive in 80% of the time — all for the same pay. The results were overwhelmingly positive: Companies in the program reported increased revenue and improved employee health and well-being, and had a positive impact on the environment.

The ongoing push for a four-day workweek isn't the first time there's been a movement to upend the traditional model of work. Until 1926, the standard US workweek lasted six days. Then, Henry Ford reduced the workweek at his namesake company down to five days. He believed an extra day off would increase workers' productivity and give workers more leisure time to spend more money — hopefully on Ford cars. The trend caught on, and, after organizing by workers in favor of the shift, the Fair Labor Standards Act set the standard for the workweek at 44 hours; an amendment in 1940 set the now-standard 40-hour week.

While staff well-being and retention are important, the trial also was associated with a revenue boost among the participating companies. Among the 16 companies in the trial that provided revenue data, combined revenue for the companies, weighted by size, increased by 8.14%, which for some companies was nearly 40% higher than revenue growth during the same six-month period of the previous year.

The companies that took part in the trial have reported almost no downsides. None of the 27 companies that filled out a final survey for participants said they had any plans to return to a five-day week.

The shift to a four day workweek as the standard is long overdue. Study after study have been conducted over the years, and each has returned at worst mostly positive results and at best overwhelmingly positive results. Not only is it beneficial generally, but in the US specifically we work longer hours than our peers.

Americans work longer hours than their peers across the globe and, compounded by the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, that overwork may be catching up with us. In a recent survey by Deloitte, 77% of respondents said they have experienced workplace burnout at their current job, with even those who are passionate about their jobs feeling frequently stressed at work. (source)

We don't have to kill ourselves over our jobs. For the vast majority of businesses, a 4 day work week is better for the business and the employees.

In some cases, a 4 day work week could even save lives.

Workplace suicides in the US are up 39% since 2000

‘It’s all preventable’: tackling America’s workplace suicide epidemic

US suicide rate is among the highest in wealthy countries and the pandemic highlighted work stress’s effect on mental health

www.theguardian.com

 

[Integrityrespec]

In the largest-ever experiment of its kind, 33 companies adopted a four-day workweek. The results were conclusive: It's time for everyone to take Fridays off.

A real-world experiment of 33 companies found that productivity, revenue, and employee well-being improved with a four-day workweek.

www.businessinsider.com

The shift to a four day workweek as the standard is long overdue. Study after study have been conducted over the years, and each has returned at worst mostly positive results and at best overwhelmingly positive results. Not only is it beneficial generally, but in the US specifically we work longer hours than our peers.


We don't have to kill ourselves over our jobs. For the vast majority of businesses, a 4 day work week is better for the business and the employees.

In some cases, a 4 day work week could even save lives.

‘It’s all preventable’: tackling America’s workplace suicide epidemic

US suicide rate is among the highest in wealthy countries and the pandemic highlighted work stress’s effect on mental health

www.theguardian.com

Lazy folks on the left want to work at home in their pajamas with fluffy in their lap 4 days a week and get paid more an hour for their "labor". Sure they do. Do you morons propose the same for DR's. nurses, dentist, EMT's, police and fire fighters? How about school, 4 days a week goes with the left and he teacher unions closing our schools for roughly 2 years so our kids can get dumb and dumber as The covid BS achieved. How about those folks that keep our power companies and water treatment plants operating. Military? How about a 4 day a week war? Our government offices need to work 4 days so the elderly and dependent have less time to get to them for help. Oh, but lets increase the number of days to mail in a vote, show up to vote, to get financial aid. This smells like more left wing entitlement BS that they don't earn but think they deserve.

 

[Questerr]

Lazy folks on the left want to work at home in their pajamas with fluffy in their lap 4 days a week and get paid more an hour for their "labor". Sure they do. Do you morons propose the same for DR's. nurses, dentist, EMT's, police and fire fighters? How about school, 4 days a week goes with the left and he teacher unions closing our schools for roughly 2 years so our kids can get dumb and dumber as The covid BS achieved. How about those folks that keep our power companies and water treatment plants operating. Military? How about a 4 day a week war? Our government offices need to work 4 days so the elderly and dependent have less time to get to them for help. Oh, but lets increase the number of days to mail in a vote, show up to vote, to get financial aid. This smells like more left wing entitlement BS that they don't earn but think they deserve.

Yeah, what nonsense. It’s like how EMT’s, police, and firefighters have a 5 day work week now so those services are only available 5 days a week.

Seriously, did you even think for a second before you posted?

 

[tres borrachos]

Yeah, what nonsense. It’s like how EMT’s, police, and firefighters have a 5 day work week now so those services are only available 5 days a week.

Seriously, did you even think for a second before you posted?

I love the irony of him calling people "morons".

 

[BirdinHand]

Lazy folks on the left want to work at home in their pajamas with fluffy in their lap 4 days a week and get paid more an hour for their "labor". Sure they do. Do you morons propose the same for DR's. nurses, dentist, EMT's, police and fire fighters? How about school, 4 days a week goes with the left and he teacher unions closing our schools for roughly 2 years so our kids can get dumb and dumber as The covid BS achieved. How about those folks that keep our power companies and water treatment plants operating. Military? How about a 4 day a week war? Our government offices need to work 4 days so the elderly and dependent have less time to get to them for help. Oh, but lets increase the number of days to mail in a vote, show up to vote, to get financial aid. This smells like more left wing entitlement BS that they don't earn but think they deserve.

Most medical professionals are already on 4 - 10 shifts, or 3 - 12 shifts in many hospitals, etc.

Same with paid first responders.

Do try to keep up.

 

[Craig234]

The fundamental issue in the US I keep raising: oligarchy versus democracy. Democracy would support this, oligarchy does not. Oligarchy wants to keep people not having time or wealth to oppose them. Even if there's a price to pay in productivity and total wealth; protecting their huge share of wealth matters more to them than the amount of total wealth. Democracy would like benefits for all.

It's why it's interesting to look a century ago as automation increased to where people naively thought society could have short work weeks soon, I think I heard as little as 4 hours per week, not recognizing that's not the idea the very wealthy had for the country.

 

[anatta]

if you get paid by the hour i assume you want 40 hour paychecks...beyond that they can slice up the days as they wish
but most public access businees wnt customers/clients 5 or more days a week

 

[Mr Person]

Lazy folks on the left want to work at home in their pajamas with fluffy in their lap 4 days a week and get paid more an hour for their "labor". Sure they do. Do you morons propose the same for DR's. nurses, dentist, EMT's, police and fire fighters? How about school, 4 days a week goes with the left and he teacher unions closing our schools for roughly 2 years so our kids can get dumb and dumber as The covid BS achieved. How about those folks that keep our power companies and water treatment plants operating. Military? How about a 4 day a week war? Our government offices need to work 4 days so the elderly and dependent have less time to get to them for help. Oh, but lets increase the number of days to mail in a vote, show up to vote, to get financial aid. This smells like more left wing entitlement BS that they don't earn but think they deserve.

What did I just say to you in the other thread? This:

And there it is. The bad faith attack. No integrity to it. No "respect". No nothing but an expression of bad faith citizenship.​

And there you are again. Another dishonest stolen attack on the left. Is your life really so barren that you can only fill it with this bad faith playacting, which threatens to tear the country apart?

 

[BirdinHand]

How about those folks that keep our power companies and water treatment plants operating

Many already do rotating shifts X on/X off.

Same with manufacturing.

Seems like you’ve been out of the workforce for a while if you don’t know these things.

 

[Geoist]

Lazy folks on the left want to work at home in their pajamas with fluffy in their lap 4 days a week and get paid more an hour for their "labor".

^Shills for the corporations want to work Americans to death.

Sure they do. Do you morons propose the same for DR's. nurses, dentist, EMT's, police and fire fighters? How about school, 4 days a week goes with the left and he teacher unions closing our schools for roughly 2 years so our kids can get dumb and dumber as The covid BS achieved. How about those folks that keep our power companies and water treatment plants operating. Military? How about a 4 day a week war? Our government offices need to work 4 days so the elderly and dependent have less time to get to them for help. Oh, but lets increase the number of days to mail in a vote, show up to vote, to get financial aid. This smells like more left wing entitlement BS that they don't earn but think they deserve.

The U.S. is the Most Overworked Nation in the World

Data on American worker time off, productivity, holiday, paid leave, sick time, hours worked per week & per year. Americans are overworked.

20somethingfinance.com

Americans Work Hundreds of Hours More a Year Than Europeans: Report

When it comes to work-life balance, the USA is not #1.

money.com

 

[Aristaeus]

Employers like it.

Four-day week: ‘major breakthrough’ as most UK firms in trial extend changes

Nearly all companies taking part opt to continue with new pattern as staff report better work-life balance

www.theguardian.com

The vast majority of companies taking part in the world’s largest trial of a four-day week have opted to continue with the new working pattern, in a result hailed as evidence that it could work across the UK economy.

Of the 61 companies that entered the six-month trial, 56 have extended the four-day week, including 18 who have made it permanent.

In total, about 2,900 employees across the UK have taken part in the pilot. Surveys of staff taken before and after found that 39% said they were less stressed, 40% were sleeping better and 54% said it was easier to balance work and home responsibilities. The number of sick days taken during the trial fell by about two-thirds and 57% fewer staff left the firms taking part compared with the same period a year earlier.

The vast majority of companies reported that they were satisfied with productivity and business performance over the trial period.

 

[Nomad4Ever]

Lazy folks on the left want to work at home in their pajamas with fluffy in their lap 4 days a week and get paid more an hour for their "labor".

What is magical about 5 day work weeks? We use to work a 6 day work week as the standard until Ford kickstarted the 5 day work week we expect today. The studies show companies make MORE money when they implement a 4 day work week. Seems like you just hate the idea of other people living a better life than you have.

Do you morons propose the same for DR's. nurses, dentist, EMT's, police and fire fighters?

Yes.

How about those folks that keep our power companies and water treatment plants operating.

Yes.

Military? How about a 4 day a week war? Our government offices need to work 4 days so the elderly and dependent have less time to get to them for help.

You do know that many federal jobs, including some full time military positions, get every other Monday off...right? You do realize power plants operate 24/7 but workers don't work for 24 hours a day 7 days a week? Like...I just want to make sure you understand a business could operate 24h a day 7 days a week with workers working 1 day a week for 8 hours as long as they hired enough people. I just want to make sure you understand the concept of overlapping work shifts because it seems like you are struggling to understand how a business could operate with a 4 day work week.

How about school, 4 days a week

That's a fantastic idea! American school consistently produce worse outcomes that nearly every other developed country. Finland has one of the best educational systems in the world based on learning outcomes and they only have school a few days a week for a few hours a week and assign half as much homework as US students get.

First of all, Finns teach their children in a “playful” manner and allow them to enjoy their childhood. For example, did you know that in average, students in Finland only have three to four classes a day? Furthermore, there are several breaks and recesses (15-20 minutes) during a school day when children can play outside whatever the weather. According to statistics, children need physical activity in order to learn better

For example, an average high school student in the US has to spend about 6 hours a day doing homework, while in Finland, the amount of time spent on after school learning is about 3 hours a day. Nevertheless, these are exactly Finnish students who lead the world in global scores for math and science.

Homework in Finland School | Education in Finland

in-finland.education

Oh, but lets increase the number of days to mail in a vote, show up to vote, to get financial aid.

Not sure how those things are related to the thread but sure. Those are all fantastic ideas.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Most medical professionals are already on 4 - 10 shifts, or 3 - 12 shifts in many hospitals, etc.

Same with paid first responders.

Do try to keep up.

That’s still a 40 hour/week schedule - the OP is advocating a 32 hour/week schedule. The idea that as much (or more?) work would get done in 20% less time is doubtful.

 

[Geoist]

What is magical about 5 day work weeks? We use to work a 6 day work week as the standard until Ford kickstarted the 5 day work week we expect today. The studies show companies make MORE money when they implement a 4 day work week. Seems like you just hate the idea of other people living a better life than you have.

MAGA Republicans slept through economics class and missed the lesson on diminishing returns.

 

[BirdinHand]

Seems like you just hate the idea of other people living a better life than you have.

And that is really ALL it comes down to with old people.

They had to work X hours a week, so young people should also.

They cannot stand the idea that younger generations might have things better.

The Boomer generation is the most selfish generation in American history.

Every generation prior to that wanted next generations to have things BETTER. The Boomers want the younger generations to work harder, have less, make less.

 

[Geoist]

That’s still a 40 hour/week schedule - the OP is advocating a 32 hour/week schedule. The idea that as much (or more?) work would get done in 20% less time is doubtful.

Initial research shows that a four-day workweek may improve productivity and employee well-being.

How A Four Day Work Week Impacts Productivity And Morale"

Switching to a four-day workweek might be a smart approach for some small businesses. Research shows if it makes sense for you and how to get it right.

www.businessnewsdaily.com

 

[Nomad4Ever]

The idea that as much (or more?) work would get done in 20% less time is doubtful.

Really?

Now, the workday is ripe for another disruption. Research suggests that in an eight-hour day, the average worker is only productive for two hours and 53 minutes.
That's right--you're probably only productive for around three hours a day.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American works 8.8 hours every day. Yet a study of nearly 2,000 full-time office workers revealed that most people aren't working for most of the time they're at work.

https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/in-an-8-hour-day-the-average-worker-is-productive-for-this-many-hours.html

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, most people could show up to work for 3 hours and as long as they worked that entire 3h period they'd get just as much work done.

 

[BirdinHand]

That’s still a 40 hour/week schedule - the OP is advocating a 32 hour/week schedule. The idea that as much (or more?) work would get done in 20% less time is doubtful.

Why?

 

[Crovax]

Most medical professionals are already on 4 - 10 shifts, or 3 - 12 shifts in many hospitals, etc.

Same with paid first responders.

Do try to keep up.

Even service industry is doing it, chic fil a is trying 3 12hr shifts

 

[HIP56948]

One nice benefit also. Instead of 10-12 rat-race morning and afternoon voyages to work and back, the public roads may be a little easier to navigate. Hopefully??

 

[Crovax]

Really?

https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/in-an-8-hour-day-the-average-worker-is-productive-for-this-many-hours.html

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, most people could show up to work for 3 hours and as long as they worked that entire 3h period they'd get just as much work done.

Then why are they sitting around for 5 hours? Either there is too little work so the company needs less people or they are just being lazy

 

[Michael Cole]

The fundamental issue in the US I keep raising: oligarchy

You really should read the posts before spewing your oligarchy nonsense.

Companies in the program reported increased revenue

There are real points to be made concerning our economy. Screaming "it's the oligarchs" is as helpful as screaming "it's the libs."

versus democracy. Democracy would support this, oligarchy does not.

Oligarchy supports this. See above.

Oligarchy wants to keep people not having time or wealth to oppose them. Even if there's a price to pay in productivity and total wealth; protecting their huge share of wealth matters more to them than the amount of total wealth. Democracy would like benefits for all.

It's why it's interesting to look a century ago as automation increased to where people naively thought society could have short work weeks soon, I think I heard as little as 4 hours per week, not recognizing that's not the idea the very wealthy had for the country.

 

[BirdinHand]

Even service industry is doing it, chic fil a is trying 3 12hr shifts

Yep.

I’ve worked for countless clients that have done 4 day work weeks - especially in the Philly/Jersey area during the summer - for years prior to Covid.

They would call them “summer hours” and they’d be in place between Memorial and Labor Day because no one wanted to deal with “shore traffic” on Fridays.

Now, post-Covid, many employers have taken a very flexible approach towards work hours.

Covid was great in that it helped to prove that folks do not need to be tied to a desk 40+ hours a week to do their jobs in corporate America.

And when employers give people flexibility, employees are generally happier and more productive.

Funny how that works.

 

[BirdinHand]

Then why are they sitting around for 5 hours? Either there is too little work so the company needs less people or they are just being lazy

If an employee is doing what they’ve been hired to do and meeting the requirements of their position, why does it matter if they can do that work in 8 hours or 4?

The work that the company is requiring is completed.

If your job is to write X code or produce Y widgets or attend to Z customer emails/calls - as an employer, as long as that is being done, why should you care how long it takes the employee to do it?

 

[AGENT J]

Lazy folks on the left want to work at home in their pajamas with fluffy in their lap 4 days a week and get paid more an hour for their "labor". Sure they do. Do you morons propose the same for DR's. nurses, dentist, EMT's, police and fire fighters? How about school, 4 days a week goes with the left and he teacher unions closing our schools for roughly 2 years so our kids can get dumb and dumber as The covid BS achieved. How about those folks that keep our power companies and water treatment plants operating. Military? How about a 4 day a week war? Our government offices need to work 4 days so the elderly and dependent have less time to get to them for help. Oh, but lets increase the number of days to mail in a vote, show up to vote, to get financial aid. This smells like more left wing entitlement BS that they don't earn but think they deserve.

Holy triggered unhinged meltdown LMAO
tell us you know nothing about this topic or the actual workforce and how it works without telling us you know nothing about this topic or the actual workforce and how it works
home many dishonest moronic lies and strawmen and false narratives can you cram into one post .. wow