Four-day work weeks may improve employees’ productivity, study finds

00:02:06
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN4tmgvQ2e4

Summary

TLDRThis report discusses the shift from a five-day workweek to a four-day workweek in many companies, highlighting the positive effects on employee well-being and productivity. It shares examples such as Kickstarter, which reduced their workweek successfully, and a large study involving British companies that reported reduced stress and burnout, better work-life balance, and increased company revenues with this change. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant catalyst for this transition by allowing more flexible working conditions. While the four-day workweek shows promising results, some businesses are reluctant to adopt this model fearing negative impacts on customer service.

Takeaways

  • 💼 The pandemic has accelerated the shift towards a four-day workweek.
  • 🔍 Studies highlight increased productivity and employee satisfaction with a four-day workweek.
  • 📈 Companies report revenue increases despite fewer work days.
  • 😌 Employees experience less stress and burnout with a shorter workweek.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Better work-life balance improves happiness and engagement.
  • 🚫 Some employees refuse to return to a five-day workweek, valuing their free time.
  • 🇬🇧 British companies see success with four-day workweeks.
  • 💪 Employers are realizing the feasibility of a shorter workweek.
  • 📉 Concerns exist about potential negative impacts on customer service.
  • 🗓 The concept challenges traditional work structures established in the 1930s.
  • 🔄 Flex hours introduced during the pandemic facilitate the transition.
  • 📊 A significant portion of employees prefer a reduced workweek schedule.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:02:06

    The segment discusses the growing shift towards a four-day workweek in the United States, noting it as a significant change in nearly a century. Companies like Kickstarter have transitioned from a five-day to a four-day week to improve work-life balance and retain employees, resulting in increased productivity. A study involving 61 British companies also showed positive results, with 92% sticking to the four-day week and reporting less stress and burnout among employees. This shift has been accelerated by the pandemic, which introduced more flexible hours, benefiting various employee groups. However, some companies remain hesitant due to concerns about potential negative impacts on customer service.

Mind Map

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What are the benefits of a four-day workweek?

    The four-day workweek has led to increased productivity, better work-life balance, and happier employees.

  • Why are some companies hesitant to adopt a four-day workweek?

    Some companies are concerned that customer service might suffer with fewer working days.

  • How did the pandemic influence workweek structures?

    The flexibility in working hours and remote work options during the pandemic accelerated the shift towards fewer working days.

  • How does a four-day workweek affect company performance?

    Studies show significant increases in productivity and employee satisfaction, which in turn boosts company revenues.

  • Are employees willing to return to a five-day workweek?

    15% of employees say they wouldn't return to a five-day workweek regardless of monetary offers.

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  • 00:00:02
    APPEARS TO BE MAKING A GREAT CASE FOR A FOUR-DAY WORKWEEK.
  • 00:00:04
    GREAT CASE FOR A FOUR-DAY WORKWEEK. TOM COSTELLO EXPLAINS.
  • 00:00:06
    FOUR-DAY WORKWEEK. TOM COSTELLO EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: PUT AWAY
  • 00:00:07
    TOM COSTELLO EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: PUT AWAY THE LAPTOPS AND THE
  • 00:00:09
    >> Reporter: PUT AWAY THE LAPTOPS AND THE HARD HATS, THE
  • 00:00:10
    THE LAPTOPS AND THE HARD HATS, THE AMERICAN WORKWEEK MAY
  • 00:00:11
    HARD HATS, THE AMERICAN WORKWEEK MAY BE HEADED FOR THE MOST
  • 00:00:12
    AMERICAN WORKWEEK MAY BE HEADED FOR THE MOST PROFOUND CHANGE IN
  • 00:00:14
    BE HEADED FOR THE MOST PROFOUND CHANGE IN NEARLY 100 YEARS.
  • 00:00:15
    PROFOUND CHANGE IN NEARLY 100 YEARS. WITH MORE COMPANIES
  • 00:00:16
    NEARLY 100 YEARS. WITH MORE COMPANIES SHIFTING FROM A
  • 00:00:17
    WITH MORE COMPANIES SHIFTING FROM A FIVE-DAY WEEK TO FOUR.
  • 00:00:18
    SHIFTING FROM A FIVE-DAY WEEK TO FOUR. >> IT'S BEEN
  • 00:00:19
    FIVE-DAY WEEK TO FOUR. >> IT'S BEEN LIFE-CHANGING, REALLY
  • 00:00:21
    >> IT'S BEEN LIFE-CHANGING, REALLY IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL
  • 00:00:22
    LIFE-CHANGING, REALLY IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
  • 00:00:23
    IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. >> Reporter: CROWD
  • 00:00:24
    EXPERIENCE. >> Reporter: CROWD FUNDING PLATFORM
  • 00:00:25
    >> Reporter: CROWD FUNDING PLATFORM KICKSTARTER WENT FROM
  • 00:00:27
    FUNDING PLATFORM KICKSTARTER WENT FROM FIVE TO FOUR DAYS LAST
  • 00:00:28
    KICKSTARTER WENT FROM FIVE TO FOUR DAYS LAST YEAR HOPING TO OFFER A
  • 00:00:29
    FIVE TO FOUR DAYS LAST YEAR HOPING TO OFFER A BETTER WORK/LIFE
  • 00:00:30
    YEAR HOPING TO OFFER A BETTER WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND RETAIN
  • 00:00:32
    BETTER WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND RETAIN VALUABLE EMPLOYEES.
  • 00:00:33
    BALANCE AND RETAIN VALUABLE EMPLOYEES. SURPRISE, THE COMPANY
  • 00:00:34
    VALUABLE EMPLOYEES. SURPRISE, THE COMPANY SAYS PRODUCTIVITY
  • 00:00:36
    SURPRISE, THE COMPANY SAYS PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED.
  • 00:00:37
    SAYS PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED. EMPLOYEES BETTER
  • 00:00:38
    INCREASED. EMPLOYEES BETTER RESTED AND MORE
  • 00:00:38
    EMPLOYEES BETTER RESTED AND MORE ENGAGED.
  • 00:00:39
    RESTED AND MORE ENGAGED. >> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
  • 00:00:41
    ENGAGED. >> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR
  • 00:00:42
    >> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND SPEND
  • 00:00:43
    SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND SPEND TIME DOING THINGS THEY
  • 00:00:44
    FAMILIES AND SPEND TIME DOING THINGS THEY LOVE AND HAPPIER AT
  • 00:00:46
    TIME DOING THINGS THEY LOVE AND HAPPIER AT WORK AND BETTER AS A
  • 00:00:47
    LOVE AND HAPPIER AT WORK AND BETTER AS A RESULT.
  • 00:00:48
    WORK AND BETTER AS A RESULT. >> Reporter: SIMILAR
  • 00:00:49
    RESULT. >> Reporter: SIMILAR FINDINGS FROM A LARGE
  • 00:00:50
    >> Reporter: SIMILAR FINDINGS FROM A LARGE STUDY INVOLVING 61
  • 00:00:52
    FINDINGS FROM A LARGE STUDY INVOLVING 61 BRITISH COMPANIES THAT
  • 00:00:53
    STUDY INVOLVING 61 BRITISH COMPANIES THAT WENT TO FOUR-DAY, 3
  • 00:00:54
    BRITISH COMPANIES THAT WENT TO FOUR-DAY, 3 3-HOUR WEEKS LAST
  • 00:00:55
    WENT TO FOUR-DAY, 3 3-HOUR WEEKS LAST YEAR, 92% SAY THEY'RE
  • 00:00:57
    3-HOUR WEEKS LAST YEAR, 92% SAY THEY'RE STICKING WITH FOUR
  • 00:00:58
    YEAR, 92% SAY THEY'RE STICKING WITH FOUR DAYS.
  • 00:00:59
    STICKING WITH FOUR DAYS. 71% REPORTED EMPLOYEES
  • 00:01:00
    DAYS. 71% REPORTED EMPLOYEES WERE LESS STRESSED AND
  • 00:01:01
    71% REPORTED EMPLOYEES WERE LESS STRESSED AND BURNT OUT.
  • 00:01:02
    WERE LESS STRESSED AND BURNT OUT. MOST SAYING THEY'RE
  • 00:01:03
    BURNT OUT. MOST SAYING THEY'RE BETTER ABLE TO BALANCE
  • 00:01:04
    MOST SAYING THEY'RE BETTER ABLE TO BALANCE HOME AND FAMILY
  • 00:01:06
    BETTER ABLE TO BALANCE HOME AND FAMILY COMMITMENTS WHILE
  • 00:01:07
    HOME AND FAMILY COMMITMENTS WHILE COMPANY REVENUES
  • 00:01:08
    COMMITMENTS WHILE COMPANY REVENUES ACTUALLY INCREASED BY
  • 00:01:09
    COMPANY REVENUES ACTUALLY INCREASED BY 35% ON AVERAGE.
  • 00:01:10
    ACTUALLY INCREASED BY 35% ON AVERAGE. RESEARCHERS SAY THE
  • 00:01:12
    35% ON AVERAGE. RESEARCHERS SAY THE FLEX HOURS THAT CAME
  • 00:01:13
    RESEARCHERS SAY THE FLEX HOURS THAT CAME WITH THE PANDEMIC
  • 00:01:14
    FLEX HOURS THAT CAME WITH THE PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THE
  • 00:01:15
    WITH THE PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THE PARADIGM SHIFT WITH
  • 00:01:16
    ACCELERATED THE PARADIGM SHIFT WITH MANY EMPLOYEES, NOT
  • 00:01:18
    PARADIGM SHIFT WITH MANY EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST WHITE COLLAR
  • 00:01:19
    MANY EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST WHITE COLLAR WORKERS, GETTING MORE
  • 00:01:20
    JUST WHITE COLLAR WORKERS, GETTING MORE FREE TIME AND NOW 15%
  • 00:01:22
    WORKERS, GETTING MORE FREE TIME AND NOW 15% SAY NO AMOUNT OF MONEY
  • 00:01:23
    FREE TIME AND NOW 15% SAY NO AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL CONVINCE THEM TO
  • 00:01:24
    SAY NO AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL CONVINCE THEM TO GO BACK TO FIVE DAYS.
  • 00:01:26
    WILL CONVINCE THEM TO GO BACK TO FIVE DAYS. >> THE UNITED STATES
  • 00:01:27
    GO BACK TO FIVE DAYS. >> THE UNITED STATES WE GOT A FIVE-DAY
  • 00:01:28
    >> THE UNITED STATES WE GOT A FIVE-DAY WORKWEEK IN THE 1930s
  • 00:01:29
    WE GOT A FIVE-DAY WORKWEEK IN THE 1930s AND THE PANDEMIC
  • 00:01:31
    WORKWEEK IN THE 1930s AND THE PANDEMIC REALLY ACCELERATED THE
  • 00:01:33
    AND THE PANDEMIC REALLY ACCELERATED THE THINKING.
  • 00:01:34
    REALLY ACCELERATED THE THINKING. IT SORT OF OPENED
  • 00:01:35
    THINKING. IT SORT OF OPENED EMPLOYERS' EYES TO THE
  • 00:01:38
    IT SORT OF OPENED EMPLOYERS' EYES TO THE IDEA THEY COULD DO
  • 00:01:41
    EMPLOYERS' EYES TO THE IDEA THEY COULD DO THIS.
  • 00:01:42
    IDEA THEY COULD DO THIS. >> Reporter: SOME HAVE
  • 00:01:43
    THIS. >> Reporter: SOME HAVE BEEN SLOW TO EMBRACE
  • 00:01:44
    >> Reporter: SOME HAVE BEEN SLOW TO EMBRACE THE CHANGE, SOME
  • 00:01:45
    BEEN SLOW TO EMBRACE THE CHANGE, SOME CONCERNED CUSTOMER
  • 00:01:46
    THE CHANGE, SOME CONCERNED CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL SUFFER
  • 00:01:48
    CONCERNED CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL SUFFER BECAUSE ONCE YOU GO TO
  • 00:01:49
    SERVICE WILL SUFFER BECAUSE ONCE YOU GO TO FOUR DAYS, IT'S HARD
Tags
  • four-day workweek
  • productivity
  • work-life balance
  • pandemic impact
  • employee satisfaction
  • company performance
  • flexible hours