An overwhelming majority of American workers want a 4-day work week. Health experts have conducted experiments that prove a 4-day work week benefits employees both physically and mentally. Companies that have adopted a 4-day work week have seen less burnout and an increase in productivity. So why isn’t a 4-day work week the norm? Logistics.
Transitioning from a traditional work week to a shorter work week takes planning, communication, and an adjustment period for both employees and clients. Employees will need structure and discipline to handle their current workload in less time and may need to work longer hours each day until their productivity increases. Employers may need to reassign tasks for workers who currently “wear a lot of hats” to ensure no one feels overwhelmed by their workload and forced to work on weekends.
Paramount to the success of any business is client happiness so clients will need to be informed of the planned changes and reassured that the level of service they’ve come to expect will not be affected. This may require business owners to set a trial run of a 4-day work week to find a flow. It’s impossible to know if productivity will suffer if all employees switch to a Monday through Thursday schedule unless the schedule is tested. Clients are used to reaching out with questions anytime Monday through Friday and figuring out how to handle client needs in a timely fashion when transitioning from a traditional work week is crucial. Effecting change takes time and effort but when the change can benefit the physical and mental health and well-being of employees it’s worth it.