Do you think 4 day work week will be helpful?

[exitseven]

It is been shown that employees can be more productive if they only work 4 days a week. We have not had a shortening of the work week in almost a hundred years. People have become more efficient so maybe it is time to make the work week 4 days.

Updates

+1 y

There is a pilot program in the state where I live to have businesses go to a 4 day work week with no reduction in pay. They want to show that it does not effect productivity and may actually increase it.

Updates

+1 y

Okay what is going on is that my state legislature wants to try a pilot program to see if there is any loss of productivity going from a 40nhour week to a 32 hour week. There will be no reduction in pay for employees and businesses will get tax incentives for participating in the program

[Anonymous]

There is evidence to suggest that a 4-day work week can be beneficial for both employees and employers. Studies have shown that employees who have a shorter work week tend to be more productive, have higher job satisfaction, and report better work-life balance. Additionally, a shorter work week could reduce stress and burnout, which can have long-term health benefits.

Moreover, a 4-day work week has the potential to boost employee morale, reduce absenteeism, and increase retention rates, as employees are more likely to feel valued and respected by their employers.

However, implementing a 4-day work week does require careful consideration and planning, as it could have financial implications for businesses and may require changes to existing policies and practices. It's also important to ensure that employees are still able to meet their job responsibilities and that the workload is distributed fairly.

Overall, a 4-day work week may be a viable option for some workplaces, but it's important to carefully evaluate the potential benefits and challenges before making any changes.

[Jamie05rhs]

Interesting. Maybe!

[Jamie05rhs]

I just want to point out one important point here: This will only work for people without children. People who have children will be burdened by this, because they will barely get to see their kids at all.

[exitseven]

Why would having an extra day off make it hard to see your kids?

[Jamie05rhs]

@exitseven Like Daniela said, working a 10 hour shift. You'd get up, tell your children goodbye, come home, and tell your children goodnight.

[exitseven]

Jamie read my update

[Jamie05rhs]

@exitseven I did. :)

[Jamie05rhs]

Thanks for the MHO.

[Aerissa_Jade]

I support the idea but the one thing is not to have Friday's off, but instead Monday's.

Some businesses in retails for example right now, are closed Mondays but open Tuesday through Saturday since Saturday is such a big shopping day.

The state government did a test run of 4 ten hour shifts but it backfired because they were closed on Fridays. Fridays are the day that other people can get off early if they have over time, they are sent home early (if possible) which means they can go to the government building to do whatever business they need to take care of.

It was a disaster because of that, but had they simply been open Fridays and closed Mondays it would of been a success. No one is ever sent home early Mondays to avoid overtime from their boss.

It depends on the business though, those that are already working at full capacity, for example in the trades or mechanics. It won't make them any more productive to only work 4 days, in fact they'll be less productive. If the business shuts down one extra day a week they'll make less money.

[Msputiton]

They been studing this for years.
And the results has shown that people get more work done working less hours.
Because of fatigue and burnout. Four 8hr day work weeks the employees tend to finish more work, than five 8hrs days week.
Because they are able to feel less tired, more focused resulting in quicker, results, with less mistakes

[exitseven]

Yes, I usually find I can get all my stuff done by noontime on most days. Then I spend the afternoon trying to find stuff to keep n me busy

[Msputiton]

Yeah over working people to make a company feel like they getting they money's worth actually is hurting them longterm. They get poor performance from their employees

[ArrowheadSW]

Given the choice, I'd prefer 5 eight hour shifts as opposed to 4 ten hour shifts. After working 8 hours there is more time to exercise and cook your food, etc. With 10 hour shifts it doesn't leave as much time to get stuff done and you have to wait until your days off.

[Daniela1982]

You can make up for it on your 3 day weekend. What are you, a wuss?

[ArrowheadSW]

@Daniela1982 LOL True, when it comes to grocery shopping, etc. But I like to exercise most days and it can be tough squeezing in exercise when you have a 10 hour workday plus commute time. But it is nice having a weekday off though, to go to dental appointments, etc.

[Daniela1982]

So an employer must pay someone for 40 hours but they only work 32? I can't see that happening.

[Msputiton]

What he is talking about 4 day work weeks but still only 8hr days

[exitseven]

@Daniela1982 it is supposed to show that employees can be more efficient if they are not over worked. I think with all the people that worked from home and still did their jobs even though they probably only really worked maybe 30 hours if that. It might be time to explore an idea like that.

[ArrowheadSW]

@Daniela1982 OK I guess the poster did say working 4 eight hour shifts, in his update. I was thinking 4 ten hour days. Problem is with 4 eights and still getting full time pay is, it doesn't last long. Employers catch on that they can get people to work longer. I saw it happen in the company that I used to work for. People who had desk jobs started boasting about how they got paid full time, but got all of their work done in say, 30 hours per week. The layoffs quickly ensued!

[Daniela1982]

Ouchie!

[ArrowheadSW]

@Daniela1982 Yeah I saw that coming. My job required me to be ON the premisses and I couldn't just mosey out when I was "caught up". If anything, with that company, they would give you MORE work if you were 40 hours a week. What they did was eliminate a bunch of jobs and made everyone else remaining to take up the slack.

[musicbrain5]

I can see the benefits, but I believe this kind of set up will only work for certain industries - mainly any job that is typically performed in an office setting.

As a teacher, I can tell you that this would not work for a school setting. Which day is the day off? Does that work with the parent’s work schedule? Where will children go if parents don’t have the same day off, if they even get the 4 day week - childcare or with family members? That is time that can and should be spent focusing on education of some sort, so why not just come to school?

What about lost instructional time, how is that made up? What about the lost hours and pay for various school staff, and not just the teachers? Actually, I can answer the last two. I guarantee that the lost instructional time would just be made up by extending the school day from 6 hours to 7.5 or 8, and that’s a very long time for children, especially if they’re 12 or under. Most of them are mentally exhausted by the time the last hour of school comes around. The other option would be to skip the summer vacation and have children go to school year round, 4 days a week, with 1 or 2 week breaks between terms.

[Daniela1982]

The 4 day work week just means you will be working 10 hours a day instead of 8. I work from home so it won't effect me. But for a lot, that extra day off will be a game changer. Or you could be like a nurse, work three 12 hour days and have 4 days off a week.

[exitseven]

The state is running a pilot program giving tax breakdown to companies that will give employees a 4 day 32 hours work week with no reduction in pay. They want to see if people are more productive.

[lightbulb27]

I prefer that and slightly longer day. nurses do that already. I was used to 6+ work days so 4 would be huge improvement.

[Cubus]

The main problem with this is that it can only work for work beind the desk. A hairdresser would not become more effective because of 4 day work.

[RealMarek]

Given that the elites shipped most well paying jobs overseas, yes, it would help a lot of underemployed people. But a better idea would be to replace our elites. Clear them out!

[Sparkie460]

Not for me. There isn't enough days in a week for the work that I have

[Adaeva]

I don't believe employees would be more productive if they only work 4 days a week. Two day off every week plus holiday is more than adequate.

[exitseven]

@adaeva. Wait until you start working and the tell me two day off a week is enough

[Adaeva]

That is nonsense. I don't have to wait because, in effect, going to school is no different than working.

[exitseven]

I bet you are home before 2 oclock.

[888theGreat]

More socialism. Heck, people won't work 2 days a week now. Most that work 5 days only go to work but don't really work.

[AviatorTom]

I know a few companies that do 4x10s, employees like it and the same amount of work gets done

[AviatorTom]

@exitseven Re: your update. Liberal Mass Democrats need to learn math. There is no way that 4x8=32 is going to be as productive as 5x8=40. Why not try 4x10=40 instead?

[exitseven]

It is a theory that people can be more productive if they are not so overworked. Having people work from home has supposedly demonstrated this. We have had a 4 day week for almost a hundred years despite gains in productivity due to technology . Maybe it is time for everyone to benefit from rhis.

[exitseven]

*5 day week*

[gorydetails]

I'd love it. But are they talking a reduction in days worked or just 4-10hr days?

[exitseven]

it is working 32 hour and get paid for 40/

[gorydetails]

Where do I sign up?

[exitseven]

I know, right?

[msc545]

Great idea if you make the last workday of each week either Monday or Friday.

[RobT312]

Interesting! I could see that work

[douride2]

I would love to work 4 ten hr days.