How likely do you think it is that a four day work week will become the standard over the next 12 months?

People & Leadership Peer Insights

Inevitable6%

Highly likely22%

Somewhat likely23%

Somewhat unlikely16%

Very unlikely28%

Impossible5%

2721 PARTICIPANTS

35.6k views37 Upvotes64 Comments

CMO in Healthcare and Biotech, 201 - 500 employees

I don’t see this being widely adopted in the US

9 1 Reply

Founder, Self-employed

I don't think so either Larry. That would be overriding 100 years of a 5 day work week... in a year? no.

CIO in Manufacturing, 1,001 - 5,000 employees

I don't think it will happen soon in Italy

CHRO in Services (non-Government), 1,001 - 5,000 employees

It's possible, but I think that there needs to be a much larger movement for at least my industry to be able to move to a four day work week. I will say I think hybrid work has allowed people to do it on their own to some extent because it's had some built-in flexibility for them.

India Head and Director of Global Finance Shared Services in Hardware, 5,001 - 10,000 employees

The Remote working has already provided some flexibility to manage personal and professional time effectively. So, my view is that Corporates are unlikely to move to 4 days working week in next 12 months.

CHRO in Consumer Goods, 501 - 1,000 employees

I have line of sight to some of the research that's coming out of Europe, and some places are loving it while some are hating it. Because I work in a plant environment, we don't have a four day week but we kind of have a four and a half day week that's already in place, and that works for the business. So we try to mimic what the plant is doing for now. They're off on Fridays, so we work more like four nine hour shifts and then do half day on Fridays. That seems to work for the business. I think people are going to continue to push for four day work weeks even though I think it's going to lose a little ground with all of the productivity concerns around the hybrid workforce. If we don't trust our hybrid workforce to work, I don't think organizations are going to give up an extra day, at least initially.

5 2 Replies

Community User in Software, 10,001+ employees

Hey Beth! Truly enjoyed our chat a few weeks back about this. Our conversation stuck out to me in particular because of your expertise with a 4.5 day work week. I hadn't considered how manufacturers/factory workers were navigating this question. Appreciate your input.

Senior IT Manager in Healthcare and Biotech, 10,001+ employees

A company I was with (Software company) experimented with 4x10 and 9-80 work weeks for IT personnel. The 9-80 was similar to the above, but was in a 10 day period, 8 days (M-Th) at 9 hours/day and one Friday was 8 hours and the second Friday was an off day to get to 80 hours over 2 weeks. The 4x10 schedule was much more popular. Definitely certain environments are easier to manage different schedules. As noted, MFG is tougher.

I have seen some MFG companies that work their plants 7 days a week do 2 shifts for 4x10 (M-Th) and then have a F-Sun shift of 3x12 which most maintenance scheduled on the weekends in the 12 hour window, though some was handled in the 4 hours available on the M-Th schedules.

Founder and Chief Sales Energizer in Services (non-Government), 2 - 10 employees

What if each person worked 4 days but there was always coverage. Just like shift work for manufacturing. It could be so in sales as well. Team selling is needed these days anyway, so why not prevent burnout and have people work 4 days and take 3 off, knowing someone will do a great job covering for them.

Principal in Finance (non-banking), Self-employed

While I believe it’s the right structure for sustainable labor, I don’t believe most companies will adopt it.

Founder/Director in Healthcare and Biotech, 2 - 10 employees

It is unlikely to be adapted at any significant scale. Especially, within the next 12 months which are looking quite uncertain at the moment

Co-founder/Practicum Director in Travel and Hospitality, 2 - 10 employees

I feel this is something different compared to previously when we just took away half a day of work on Saturday. This time we are taking a full day off instead. The pressure is higher on the employers this time to figure out how it can be less disruptive IMO.

However from an economics perspective, I welcome the change as it provides a permanent boost to economic activities with 3 full days to spend time and money on family, friends and hobbies. :)

Director of IT in Banking, 10,001+ employees

I think this situation isn't possible soon.

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