Would a Four-Day Workweek Work for YOU?

According to “WorkBright,” The dream of work-free Fridays has “long captivated employee imaginations,” but a growing body of research suggests this new paradigm may also benefit employers. A 2023 study in the UK found 71% of employees report less burnout and 39% report less stress, while organizations saw 65% fewer sick and personal days. Interestingly, even though employees’ hours decreased, companies’ revenues actually increased by 1.4% on average according to the study.

That study was conducted in the United Kingdom and involved 61 companies with a total combined workforce of approximately 2900 employees. The study was spurred by the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein many workers experienced increased stress and even burnout, which adversely affected people’s ability to meet work goals. Service and healthcare industries were hard-hit.

Such a shift would require planning, creativity, and technology, but forward-thinking employers are already exploring this idea – and finding both that there would be a lot of work to be done and that there could be good paybacks.