A pretty big part of society works 40 hours a week, which is a lot. People spend most of their conscious time at work and are really tired of it. And, of course, it’s understandable. In 2024, with half of the processes mechanized and robotized, it seems unnecessary to work as much as we did 20 years ago.
The good news is that there are people who share this idea and are creating programs to help companies recognize the issue and move forward. In this article, we’ll talk about one of these programs, analyze its results, and try to answer the question: “Are the States ready for the switch to a 4-day workweek?”
Why 40 hours?
A quick history lesson: Since industrialization, people worked 6 days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day. It was exhausting, both mentally and physically. In the early 20th century, workers began organizing protests, demonstrations, and meetings to express their deep dissatisfaction with their working conditions.
The significant change was made by Henry Ford, who was the first to establish the 8-hour workday and 5-day workweek, which then became common practice. Ford adopted the idea from demonstrators who had called for "8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, and 8 hours for recreation." In 1938, it became law that working more than 44 hours a week should be paid extra as overtime. In 1940, this number was decreased to 40 hours.
And if 80, 60, and even 20 years ago it was more than a great schedule — it was a pleasure — now it feels like torture.
- The 40-hour workweek became a standard in the mid-20th century
- Henry Ford played a crucial role in this process by implementing a 40-hour Monday-to-Friday schedule at his company
- The world has changed significantly enough to consider the traditional workweek outdated now
Monday-to-Friday is outdated
There are many reasons why. One of the most obvious is technology. It allows us to do more in a shorter period of time. From information search to code writing, artificial intelligence, various robots, and other technological tools simplify our lives both at work and at home.
Among other reasons, we can mention a desire for work-life balance, a greater emphasis on personal time and space, and a willingness to spend more time with family, friends, and oneself. The understanding that we don’t live to work, we work to live is gradually permeating people’s minds, changing their attitude towards time management.
So, a logical question arises: if we now produce more, why don't we work less? The typical answer is to grow sales and businesses. However, let's explore how a different approach affects people's well-being.
- Technological advancements allow us to produce more while spending less time and effort
- The pandemic has shown many that work is not the most important aspect of life
- More and more people are realizing that we work to live, not live to work
Satisfying 4-day workweek
For some, it may seem impossible, but the conditions of the UK 4-day workweek trial were 100%-80%-100%. People did 100% of the work they did before, received 100% of their previous salary, and worked only 80% of the time they used to. The results of the experiment exceeded expectations, with most companies either continuing their 4-day workweek trial or making this format permanent for their employees. The survey results from the participating companies provide an interesting picture of how this experiment impacted people.
Higher productivity
One of the obvious advantages of the reduced workweek on the 100-80-100 terms is an increased productivity level. You simply won’t have enough time to do everything you need to if you keep the same task distribution and rhythm.
Better work-life balance
Most workers report a better work-life balance due to the additional day off. The time people used to spend on pointless meetings, coffee breaks, and checking emails is now distributed between family, hobbies, rest, and self-learning.
Less stress
The research shows that workers who have experienced a 4-day workweek report experiencing stress less frequently and there are fewer cases of burnout. It is not clear, however, whether this is due to a better work-life balance or having less time to stress due to busier days at work.
Healthier planet
With fewer people commuting once a week, the impact on the environment is also significant. Although some may go shopping or travel for the weekends, the amount of carbon in the air has decreased.
- The terms of the UK trial were 100-80-100: earn 100% of your previous salary for 80% of the time you used to work, while completing 100% of your previous workload
- Results show higher productivity levels and better work-life balance. People tend to feel happier overall
- Surveyed employees state experiencing lower stress levels and reduced burnout
- The practice of one additional day off also contributes to the planet's health as people commute less
Is everything all rainbows and sunshine?
As always, everything has its downsides. The same applies to what seemed like a perfect solution to many problems. The 100-80-100 approach means that you have to work faster, more effectively, and reinvent your old habits into something new, more suitable for the new circumstances.
Some companies implement various tools, such as no-meeting days or limited email hours. However, others do not, which affects their employees, who may struggle to quickly adapt to a changed environment.
However, these employees are not the only ones struggling to adjust to a 4-day workweek. There are major industries that cannot easily benefit from removing one day from their workweek. One such industry is retail sales. In sales, there is a simple rule - the more you work, the more you earn. This rule is still applicable, as evidenced by 24/7 shops and deliveries. Nearly everything deeply connected with customer service faces the risk of losing income by working less. But there is more.
- A 4-day workweek based on terms of 100-80-100 may be too hard for people unable to adapt to the new working conditions
- Some companies are ready to help their employees adapt, while others are not
- Industries based on customer service and relations will struggle to establish such a work schedule. It is doubtful they will ever be able to do that
Stiff corporations
The bigger the company, the more unrealistic it seems for them to establish such huge changes as a 4-day workweek. There are three generalized reasons for this:
- Big companies (500 employees or more) usually have well-structured regulations, courses of action, and a complicated hierarchy of supervisors and workers. Quickly switching to a completely different work rhythm may end up damaging the company from within.
- Large corporations often operate on a global scale, coordinating across multiple time zones and regions, which requires consistent availability. Implementing a 4-day workweek could disrupt international collaboration and client relations, leading to inefficiencies and potential losses.
- These companies have extensive customer service and support operations that rely on a 5-day or even 24/7 schedule, making a shift to a 4-day workweek logistically challenging without compromising service quality and customer satisfaction.
Okay, so big companies in customer service without adaptation strategies are out. But why don't small IT companies in the US try this? To figure it out, we need to delve a little deeper.
- Among the reasons why bigger companies can’t quickly implement a new schedule, even though it has proven effective, is the complex structure of their workforce
- International business partners and operations, different time zones, and customer service and support make the process even more challenging
The States are not ready yet
A close comparison of the workforce structures of the UK and the USA will provide a better understanding of the situation.
In the UK, the government takes care of people’s health, well-being, and family planning. This means less stress for employers and fewer headaches over employee retention through benefits. Thus, since the government is responsible for its population, they can try new ways of building a healthy and happy society, which is much simpler to do when everything is structured.
On the other hand, in the USA, benefit systems are the responsibility of employers. These systems have a significant influence, hugely impacting an employee's decision. For example, given a choice between dental and vision insurance and a 4-day workweek, most people will probably choose the former.
Every employer can decide for themselves whether they want to implement a 4-day workweek. But why would they? Many regulations, rules, and structural norms in the USA are rooted in a strong corporate culture that values long hours. Therefore, for many employers, the idea of cutting 8 hours from the workweek without reducing salaries will probably seem ridiculous. It may evoke a feeling of “I provide you with everything you need. That's enough already; be grateful.” And we can't blame them; it's the system itself.
- The main reason why the United States is not ready to try this approach lies in its differences with the UK
- What Americans call “benefits,” in the UK, is mandated by law
- In the US, the responsibility for employee welfare rests with employers, who have the discretion to choose which benefits to offer. And as long as this remains unchanged, employers will perceive no need for adjustments
What can you do?
So, if you are an American citizen hoping for a 4-day workweek schedule (or at least something similar), there are several alternatives that may not fully replicate the UK version but can improve your working conditions.
Ask for hybrid
This won’t work for remote workers but may be the ultimate solution for those who increasingly dislike commuting from Monday to Friday. It doesn’t always have to be Friday for remote work; you can ask for a flexible schedule and have floating additional remote days. Working from somewhere else once or twice a week can greatly impact your psychological health, attitude toward work, and overall happiness.
Ask for official longer hours
If your work does not require you to be available and on the phone every day, you may consider asking to shift your 8 hours from Friday to the rest of the week, adding 2 hours each day.
This would be a great decision for those who tend to overwork already. However, be aware that you will have to improve your productivity and work faster to complete everything on time with this option.
Ask for fully flexible schedule
This will work well for you if you simply have certain tasks you do from week to week and your work does not depend on or influence the work of others. In that case, you can ask for a fixed 40-hour schedule instead of the fixed 9-to-5 Monday-to-Friday.
Some people are highly productive at the beginning of the week and can work up to 12 hours a day if they want to, but by the end of the week, they have no strength left. They would find shorter Thursdays and Fridays to be a great option. Others are absolutely useless until 1 p.m. In this case, there is no need to work early mornings when you can comfortably work late evenings.
Freelance and gig
As a last resort, you can choose to start a freelancing career. Depending on your skills and area of expertise, you can become a very valuable and in-demand gig worker, while being able to fully control your workload.
- If you want to bring about change, advocate for yourself
- Ask for a more flexible schedule: remote days (hybrid format), flexible working hours, or other variations of a traditional 9-to-5
- If you find that your employer is unwilling to accommodate you, consider starting a freelance or gig career, which are popular for their flexibility
If you really want to change the pace of your life and work, do whatever you can, try various approaches, and be consistent in your search for better working conditions. Someday, maybe the whole world will be ready to embrace the advantages of a 4-day workweek, including the United States. But for now, you are the one who has to take care of yourself. So, take charge of your work-life balance and explore the options that suit you best. With determination and perseverance, you can create a schedule that works for you.