On May 1 of this year, I did something I’ve wanted to do for a few years now. After 40 years of full-time work, I reduced my hours and started working a 4-day work week.
Since making this change, I’ve heard a lot in the news about 4-day work week trials around the world. Is this just a temporary tactic to address the current war for talent, or will a shortened work week become the norm in the future of work? Let’s take a look.
The false promise of technology
I started working full time at the age of 18. Other than two maternity leaves, and one short disability leave, I’ve been working 40 hours a week—and often a lot more—ever since.
Joining the workforce in the early days of the computer age, I heard how computers would revolutionize the world of work. Experts said we’d work fewer hours, and have much more leisure time.
Years later, I’m still waiting for that promise to become reality. Advances in technology have had the opposite effect. Many modern workers have laptops and smartphones so they can stay connected to the office 24-7-365.
But things are changing.
Did the pandemic permanently change our relationship with work?
Technology certainly helped keep the business world moving during the pandemic. What seemed unimaginable just a decade ago became the new reality when many of us seamlessly made the shift to full-time work-from-home in March 2020.
As things return to normal, trends like the great resignation indicate workers have been rethinking their relationship with work. As workers seek more flexibility, employers are being forced to get creative to win the war for talent. Remote work and hybrid work have become the norm for many office workers, and we’re starting to hear more about a 4-day work week.
What’s happening around the world?
Many countries and large companies are experimenting with various 4-day work week models. There’s a full roundup of all the various studies around the world on Build Remote’s website. Here are some notable examples.
Iceland
One of the largest studies was done in Iceland between 2015 and 2019. In this study, 2,500 workers from the Reykjavik City Council and the Icelandic national government moved from a 40-hour to a 35- or 36-hour work week with no reduction in pay.
The final report released in 2021 concluded that productivity and service remained the same—and in some cases increased. At the same time, there was a significant improvement in worker wellbeing.
Today, roughly 86% of Iceland’s working population have moved to a shorter work week.
United Kingdom
A business-driven pilot is currently underway in the United Kingdom. This study is based on an 80-100-80-100 model. Workers receive 100% of pay for 80% of the time in exchange for a commitment to maintain 100% productivity.
The pilot runs until December of this year, so no results are available yet. Plans are underway to run similar pilots in other countries, including the United States and Canada, and Australia and New Zealand.
Microsoft Japan
In 2019, Microsoft Japan saw a 40% increase in productivity after giving their employees Fridays off during the summer.
Even the World Economic Forum has a 4-day work week on its radar.
Three models are emerging
There are different ways to implement a 4-day work week, but three models seem to be emerging.
- A compressed work week involves working the same number of hours in four days instead of five. Someone working 40 hours a week would work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days.
- In a reduced hours with no reduction in pay arrangement like the United Kingdom’s 100-80-100 model or Iceland’s 35- or 36-hour a week model, workers receive full pay for working fewer hours.
- Finally, the more traditional reduced hours with reduced pay model involves taking a pay cut along with the reduced hours. As my employer doesn’t officially offer a 4-day work week, I took a 20% pay cut in exchange for my extra day off each week.
There are some details to work out
Despite its appeal, there are some details to be worked out with a 4-day work week.
- Many child care providers don’t offer flexibility to parents working a 4-day week.
- It’s an adjustment for HR and payroll systems, and benefits plans that are built for a 5-day 40-hour work week.
- It requires some additional management effort in some cases.
- Finally, it doesn’t work for every business, creating further inequity between workers.
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My experience so far
So, how do I feel after almost three months of a 4-day work week? In short, I love it!
It’s wonderful to have an extra day every week to run errands, attend appointments, do chores around the house, and work on my blog and other projects.
As far as productivity is concerned, I’m very motivated to get my work done in four days so I can enjoy my day off. I haven’t had any issues with meeting deadlines or getting things done.
I’m fortunate to be in a position where the 20% pay cut didn’t create financial hardship for me. In fact, thanks to Canada’s progressive tax system, a 20% cut in gross pay only translated to about a 12% reduction in my take-home pay.
It has been almost a hundred years since Henry Ford pioneered the 5-day work week by shutting his factories down for two days every week. It’s too soon to say if we’re on the edge of another permanent shift. One thing for sure, as the war for talent wages on, it’s safe to say the 4-day work week will be a hot topic of discussion for the foreseeable future.
Does your employer offer a 4-day work week? Would you be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for fewer hours? Tell me your thoughts below.
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Hi Michelle,
The changes of the past few years have been interesting. I see remote work taking off and lesser work executed more effectively. Being a digital nomad for 10 years, the remote deal has been life for me. It will be fascinating to see where the work culture trends moving forward. Amazing how quickly a big shift occurs when most people seem to be on board.
Ryan
Hi Ryan. Yes, the pandemic definitely accelerated the future of work changes that were already starting. The current war for talent will accelerate things even further. It will be interesting to see how it all evolves. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I currently work a four-day week and love it. Granted, with night shifts I still only really get a two day weekend, but I’m so grateful for my schedule. Back in 2018 I changed my relationship with work and hours and chose to find a way to avoid the 40-hour work week. Even though it meant financial sacrifices, the benefits to my overall health and well-being was so great it was worth it. I really hope that things change and move towards a shorter work week overall. I love that you’ve found a way to make it work for your life. 🙂
Thank you. I think we’d all be better off if we prioritized our wellbeing over money. I realize that sounds privileged and not everyone has that option, but some of it comes down to being intentional about your life and knowing your values. When my daughters were born, I decided to prioritize family over career and stop trying to climb the corporate ladder. It’s a decision I have never regretted.
Sounds great! I’m planning to request a four day work week as soon as my mortgage is paid off, a baby step towards early retirement
I’ve had similar goals. I always planned to fully retire once my daughters were finished their education. But, I’m not ready to fully retire, so reducing to 4 days is a first step that frees me up to explore other things.
I, like many others, are in support of this! I believe in work-life balance and since the pandemic, as terrible as it has been, it’s provided me a great balance between work and personal life.
The unfortunate thing is that I work for a hospital and as we all know, those never shut down. Even though my clinic is an out-patient clinic, it would be the last place to implement a 4-day work week.
A few of my friends have been at jobs now where every Friday is a half day so I totally believe a 4-day work week would work well- it would make all of us be more productive during working hours in order to earn that extra day off.
Thanks Jen. Yes, a shortened work week is difficult in a 24-7 environment, especially in the middle of a labour shortage. I do believe, however, that solutions exist even in those environments but it might take a little creativity.
I already work 4 days a week, most weeks. I feel less tired and can get other things done.
I do this for less pay but it’s so worth it.
I hope the 4-day work catches on.
I agree that it’s worth the pay reduction if you can make it work. I definitely value time more than money at this stage of my life.
Thank you for sharing how four day work weeks can be productive, rewarding and rejuvenating. My partner works four ten hour afternoon shifts, allowing them to have Friday evenings off. This is especially pleasing in summer when the days are longer and the weather is fabulous! The thirty two hour work week means earning slightly less, but as you mentioned, your tax bracket is reduced, gas/transportation costs are less (a positive environmental impact) plus you’re saving coffee and lunch money and daycare (if you have young children.
Yes, I seriously believe the four day work week will have a positive impact for everyone. Win-win!
Thanks Lorraine. Yes, it’s definitely a positive change and I think the benefits outweigh any downside. Time will tell if it catches on.
Yes yes and yes! I have four-day work weeks during the summer with extended days. And it’s great. It’s always seemed to me that the more employers treat employees well and listen to their needs, the better results they get. I have been blessed with three fantastic supervisors in the ten years I’ve been at my job, and they make me want to do better work because they are so kind and supportive (and I care about the work in general). I’d love to go down to half-time now, but I don’t think my position lends itself to it. I really hope this trend catches on.
I hope it catches on too, Suzanne. I have found such a huge difference in my overall wellbeing since I started the 4-day week and I don’t think my productivity has dropped at all.
I think it’s a great idea when and if they work the bugs out. I wonder if it could work for city government like where my husband works. It seems that would be a great incentive to get these guys who don’t want to work, or who whine all the time, to put more effort in yet get the same pay. And they have stand-by to deal with too, so that means they have enough employees to rotate. Sure everyone would end up having at least one shift a month on the weekends, but I think they do that now anyway. It will be nteresting to see how it plays out.
I think it can work for a lot of different jobs but it does take some effort and coordination. However, if companies want to hang onto the wisdom and knowledge of their older workers, it’s one way they can do it.