Taking Stock of the Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek

The discussion around the pros and cons of a shorter workweek has been floating around for years now, but the progress toward materializing this reality has been slow. Employees across the globe have remained enthusiastic and hopeful about the possibility of a 4-day week, however, the disadvantages and apprehensions surrounding the change have been plenty.

The shorter workweek paradox has remained at the forefront of the work conversation for a while, however, the tussle between remote work and in-person work has distracted organizations from the conversation. On one hand, a shorter workweek could result in happier, more productive workers, however, the many limitations of a 4-day workweek and the uncomfortable transition period could also be catastrophic. 

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Tracking the Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek

A 4-day workweek may sound like a novel concept but our current structure of a 5-day workweek was just as unique as a concept a mere century ago. Around 1924, Ford was among the first factories to offer workers a weekend to themselves, shifting to a 5-day workweek model to give workers more leisure time and perhaps find the drive to invest in Ford’s own products. It took a while for this work practice to become commonplace, however, by 1940, the Fair Labor Standards Act made 40-hour weeks the norm.

With the growth of AI and automation, the nature of work is shifting slowly to a place where a lot of tasks can be automated, giving workers some time back to themselves. This isn’t occurring in all industries uniformly, however, as the landscape of work evolves, the system of work should too.

When the discussions surrounding the shorter workweek begin, most workers are on board with a plan where they have to work fewer hours in the week or are rewarded with a longer weekend. The problem arises when the workload doesn’t automatically shift to accommodate this change. Worse still, is when employers begin considering cutting down on pay as well as the workday. 

Advantages of Having a Shorter Workweek

There are many advantages to having a shorter workweek of course:

• Workers are more energized after having more time to themselves
• Employees get to expand their perspective, making time for family, hobbies, and even additional training courses
• Worker can take care of their personal tasks and responsibilities, reducing the need to take leave from work
• Burnout becomes less of an active problem with a more relaxed workweek
• Employees can stay on top of their health checkups, doctors’ appointments, nutrition plans, etc., resulting in a more efficient workforce overall
• Workers get more time to disengage from work and then return every week with a more productive mindset
• Work can be actively more streamlined and efficient during the week to make the most of the limited time available 
• Organizations may see some cost savings by reducing the use of office space and resources by a day every week

Despite these many advantages, there are many problems that arise with a shorter workweek.

Disadvantages of a Shorter Workweek

Any attempts to shift to a 4-day workweek will mean months of reworking systems and overhauling the organization, which will inevitably be hard on employees. This is only the beginning of the cons of a 4-day schedule. 

• Employees will have to work twice as hard to get tasks done as a 4-day workweek will not mean more employees will be hired to share the workload
• Workers will have to return to more work than ever every Monday, likely leaving them more exhausted than they would be with a traditional workweek
• The boost in morale from a shorter workweek may be temporary—after workers get used to the new system and the excitement dies down, the enthusiasm and productivity numbers will return to normal
• Workers working fewer hours may be left with smaller salaries which will be unsustainable for them. If they have to seek a second job to work during their time off, all relaxation will come to an end quickly
• If the workload is not adjusted, then stress levels will continue to remain elevated
• It may be harder to keep in line with employment laws and other regulations if matters are not standardized.
• Clients may react negatively when organizations are not available as regularly
• Employers may lose work or reduced work from employees and less time for taking on projects

There are many disadvantages to a 4-day workweek but if organizations plan ahead properly, there is room to make it work in its favor. Organizations need to carefully assess their own work systems and explore the possibilities of how work will evolve. Maintaining work schedules as they are today may work for a few more years, but change is inevitable and there will be a time when businesses have to adapt.

It is in every employer’s best interest to evaluate the circumstances of their business and industry, and then experiment with trial programs to understand what works best for its workforce.

The post Taking Stock of the Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek appeared first on The HR Digest.

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