Unicorns. Big Foot. The 4-day workweek. These were once all considered urban legends. While I can’t speak for the first three, I can say with confidence that there has been a shift toward shorter workweeks. According to CNN Money and The Society for Human Resource Management, “a 4-day -- or compressed -- workweek is offered as an option to at least some employees at 43% of companies”. Schedule flexibility has become increasingly popular and it’s hard not to like the idea.
4-day workweeks can be implemented in a number of ways. They can be altered depending on company culture and can be customized based on employee/employer needs.
Employers are finding out that a shortened week doesn’t just benefit their employees. If applied properly, 4-day workweeks can be a win-win. The employee wins because he/she gets extended weekends. And the employer can benefit from higher employee focus and attention due to the impending long weekends. Nate Reusser of Reusser Design has found that the policy “motivates everyone to work faster and with greater focus -- much like the way people work just before going on vacation”.
Barbara Wankoff, KPMG's director of workplace solutions also recognizes a shortened workweek as a win-win for companies. In reference to employees she said, "Their satisfaction goes way up when they have control over their time. And it increases employee morale and productivity and retention."
This plan is a better fit for some companies than others obviously, but it is something that employers around the country are beginning to think about more. It is no longer a foreign idea as almost half of U.S. companies offer some sort of shortened workweek. And it is hard to ignore the competitive advantage over rival companies provided by workweek flexibility. Most perspective employees will see workweek flexibility as a huge benefit. And for current employees, a shortened workweek works well toward employee retention.
The 4-day workweek isn't limited to private companies as the U.S. Government Accountability Office has workweek flexibility too. With so many companies making the switch to a shortened workweek, it’s easier and more beneficial than ever before. Do you think your company should make the change?
4-day workweeks can be implemented in a number of ways. They can be altered depending on company culture and can be customized based on employee/employer needs.
Employers are finding out that a shortened week doesn’t just benefit their employees. If applied properly, 4-day workweeks can be a win-win. The employee wins because he/she gets extended weekends. And the employer can benefit from higher employee focus and attention due to the impending long weekends. Nate Reusser of Reusser Design has found that the policy “motivates everyone to work faster and with greater focus -- much like the way people work just before going on vacation”.
Barbara Wankoff, KPMG's director of workplace solutions also recognizes a shortened workweek as a win-win for companies. In reference to employees she said, "Their satisfaction goes way up when they have control over their time. And it increases employee morale and productivity and retention."
This plan is a better fit for some companies than others obviously, but it is something that employers around the country are beginning to think about more. It is no longer a foreign idea as almost half of U.S. companies offer some sort of shortened workweek. And it is hard to ignore the competitive advantage over rival companies provided by workweek flexibility. Most perspective employees will see workweek flexibility as a huge benefit. And for current employees, a shortened workweek works well toward employee retention.
The 4-day workweek isn't limited to private companies as the U.S. Government Accountability Office has workweek flexibility too. With so many companies making the switch to a shortened workweek, it’s easier and more beneficial than ever before. Do you think your company should make the change?
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