Four-Day Week Findings Highly Encouraging for Employees
In the last few years, the four-day workweek has begun to gain traction. There are variations on the model. In one iteration, employees work one fewer day per week, but retain the same workload, compensation, and benefits. In another, working hours are reduced, which in turn impacts pay and benefits. Proponents argue that both types will bring benefits to businesses and staff.
The idea is almost universally popular among employees, with around 80% respondents to a Work in America survey saying they believe they would be happier and just as effective with a four-day workweek. It has yet to find the same foothold among senior leaders, but, as the report demonstrates, momentum is building.
Research is in its infancy, but these hypotheses are certainly borne out by preliminary findings. For instance, a 2024 study of 247 construction company workers who followed a four-day workweek had a beneficial impact on “work-life harmony and did not increase fatigue.”
