The 4-day workweek is currently widely considered in the corporate culture, especially since several companies have launched a trial for their employees. Companies like The Landmark London in the UK, Canon, and Panasonic have revealed their intention to introduce a 4-day workweek to their corporate culture in order to improve employee work-life balance. A shorter week was also being tested, planned or launched in New Zealand, Iceland, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
The case for the 4-day workweek has been more relevant than ever since the American Psychological Association revealed an all-time high for employee burnout. US Representative Mark Takano from California has issued legislation to reduce the workweek into 32 hours without sacrificing pay. This might mean more weekend leisure time, but this also implies that employees need to do more in a shortened workweek, which means that your work actually intensifies in a shorter period of time.
Although this well-intentioned campaign was believed to be said to improve employee work-life balance, Andrew Barnes, co-founder of the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global, explained that the measure is not about work-life balance. He claimed that this is a very sensible, rational business practice that improves employee productivity and profitability by giving its staff more time off.
Companies that have started to adopt the 4-day workweek revealed how some of their employees are more productive and satisfied with their 3-day weekend because they felt that they are given the opportunity to truly decompress on their time off. Others stated that their social interactions have suffered due to the cramming of more work into shorter time.
Since not all companies have adopted the 4-day workweek, the challenge lies in dealing with clients who still implement a more traditional 5-day workweek. Companies are still reluctant to adopt the 4-day workweek into their corporate culture because it would decrease employee engagement among each other, which could result in less motivation in their job and increase stress level. Whatever the case, it might be prudent to assess whether the 4-day workweek is a suitable corporate culture to adopt into your organization before making any decisions regarding it.
At ACT Consulting International, we strive to be your best partner in culture transformation. With programs created customized to your specific needs and requirements, ACT Consulting International provides you with a precise, quantifiable, and focused approach in transforming your corporate culture into a better leadership & people, business, and culture for your company.
Source:
Financial Times
Investopedia
Wired