Can a four-day workweek beat out a five-day, 40-hour work schedule?

Jul 07, 2021 at 06:00 PM CDT

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The idea of a four-day workweek is currently being explored by employers around the globe. Results from a recent study in Iceland show “overwhelming success,” but can it beat out a five-day, 40-hour work schedule?

Tags: Society at Large

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DOES A 4-DAY WORK WEEK SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

IT’S PROVING TO BE A GREAT IDEA FOR WORKERS AND THEIR COMPANIES.

LET ME EXPLAIN.

ICELAND, A COUNTRY KNOWN FOR ITS GLACIERS AND BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS, IS THE LATEST COUNTRY TO STUDY THE IDEA.

THE STUDY WHICH RAN FROM 2015 TO 2019 INCLUDED 2,500 WORKERS.

ALL WORKED ROUGHLY 36-HOURS A WEEK, OVER THE COURSE OF
FOUR DAYS FOR THE SAME PAY.

RESEARCHERS OF THE STUDY SAY THE RESULTS WERE AN “OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.”

PRODUCTIVITY REMAINED THE SAME OR IMPROVED, WHILE THE EMPLOYEE’S WELL-BEING INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

MICROSOFT JUST CONDUCTED A SIMILAR STUDY IN JAPAN.

IN A MONTH’S TIME, THEY NOTICED MORE EFFICIENT MEETINGS, HAPPIER WORKERS, AND PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED BY 40-PERCENT. AND COUNTRIES LIKE SPAIN AND NEW ZEALAND ARE ALSO GIVING THIS IDEA A TRY.

THE 40-HOUR WORKWEEK STARTED DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO HELD A BLUE COLLARED JOB, WORKED 12 HOUR SHIFTS, SIX DAYS A WEEK.

AMERICAN WORKERS HELD LABOR STRIKES TO DEMAND A SHORTER WORKDAY AND WEEK.

IN 1926, HENRY FORD, ENGINEER AND FOUNDER OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO INTRODUCE THE 40-HOUR WORKWEEK. FORD BELIEVED IT WOULD “INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY.”

IN 1938, PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT SIGNED THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT INTO LAW, WHICH SOLIDIFIED THE 40-HOUR WORK SCHEDULE.

SINCE THEN, IT’S PRETTY MUCH BEEN THE NORM IN THE U-S AND AROUND THE WORLD.

TODAY, A NEW MOVEMENT AIMS TO REINVENT IT.

FOUR DAYS ON AND THREE DAYS OFF. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS CHANGE?DO YOU THINK IT’S DOABLE?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. ALSO, BE SURE TO RATE THIS REPORT USING OUR BIAS METER.

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