“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.”
John Maynard Keynes
During these dog days of summer, everyone has vacation on the brain. Just imagine how nice it would be to have a long weekend every week, especially this time of year. That begs the question: what would happen if companies shifted to a shorter work week? I decided to dig in and want to share what I learned about the unexpected benefits of a four-day work week.
Four-day work week
I’ve read several articles recently reporting on benefits of a four-day work week. Unsurprisingly, multiple studies show it is popular with employees. But there appear to be unexpected benefits too. The kicker is, employees seem to actually get more done in less time. Indeed, companies who piloted the concept saw more productivity in fewer working hours.
An organization called 4 Day Week Global ran a series of studies in different places around the world. Employers in the US, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand tested the model “100:80:100”, meaning 100% output, 80% time, 100% compensation. Guess what? A four-day week had multiple benefits for both workers and employers. The studies were then replicated in cities around the world.
Benefits seen with a four-day work week:
- Higher productivity
- Happier employees
- Lower turnover
- Improved mental health
- Lower emissions
Wait, lower emissions?
Our planet is warming because carbon dioxide and other gases are trapping too much of the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. The main contributor is the burning of fossil fuels for transportation, electricity, and heating/cooling buildings. A four-day work week would reduce all of these sources of CO2 emissions.
How a shorter work week would cut emissions:
- Fewer cars commuting = lower tailpipe emissions
- Reduction in heating/cooling and electricity use in office buildings
- Less energy needed for data storage and transmission
Ok, these things are good, but what if workers created more emissions on their extra day off? Apparently this isn’t the case. While it’s true people still drive and use electricity when they are not working, the data shows people produce lower emissions on days off compared with work days.
Obviously, this schedule won’t work for every job or industry, but imagine if more companies across the US gave it a try? While it would mean breaking away from the long-held belief that the 40+ hour week is optimal, it could work wonders for people’s quality of life and improve productivity. Add the climate benefit as a cherry on top, and it seems like an idea worth exploring further.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.