A 4-day work week? Don’t hold your breath

There’s a lot of talk right now about a four-day work week, both globally and here in the U.S. In Iceland, over 80% of the workforce now has the four-day work week as an option, and the concept is catching on. Spain, New Zealand and Japan are giving it a shot, and a California congressman recently introduced legislation to make the four-day work week happen here at home.

Could America be next? Not so fast, folks.

What exactly is the four-day work week?

A four-day work week means people are working 32-36-hour weeks (maybe even less) — not full 40-hour weeks. That makes this concept different from shift work, where people work fewer days but still fit 40 hours into the work week. With a four-day work week, you’re guaranteed a three-day weekend every week. And did I mention that the pay doesn’t decrease? That’s right; you still get the same salary or hourly pay as if you’re working a full five days.

You might be saying, “You had me at three-day weekend!” Or maybe you’re wondering how productive people can be if they’re only working four days. Apparently, a four-day work week can make some people more productive. At least, that’s what studies showed in Iceland, where a number of workers say they feel less stressed and burned out. The study lasted from 2015-19 and cut back on workers’ hours without cutting down on their income.

Those employees said having shorter hours actually improved the quality of their work and they had the energy to do other things away from their jobs. They reported better overall attitudes because they were coming to work fully present instead of running on empty.

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