Why a Four-Day Work Week Will Be the Norm

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What would you do with an extra day added to your weekend?

Go fishing?
Sleep in?
Get some yard work done?

How about work out? According to a recent article in Time, that’s what most of the Utah state employees mandated to take a four-day work week would do.

  • One year ago Utah mandated 4-day workweeks (closing on Fridays) for 17,000 state employees in an effort to reduce energy costs.
  • Employees still worked 40 hours, just putting in longer days Monday-Thursday.
  • There was a 13% reduction in energy use, and employees saved a total of $6 million in gas.
  • A whopping 82% of workers say they are in favor of keeping the new schedule.
  • “Fears that working 10-hour days would lead to burnout turned out to be unfounded…workers took fewer sick days and reported exercising more on Fridays. ‘This can really make a difference for work-life balance,’ says Jeff Herring, Utah’s executive director for human resources.”

I know of a few friends who have adopted this schedule and can attest that they are loving it. With the Millenial generation taking the ranks in the workforce in the next 5-15 years, could a five-day work week be a thing of the past?

What do you think? Would you want a perma-three-day weekend?

(HT: Jeremy Anderberg for the awesome research.)

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I am a religious deviant who enjoys coffee, collared shirts, spending time with my wife and son, learning about quantum physics and creatively exploring the riches of the Spirit of Christ. Find more here: JustinWise.me
  • I'm actually writing a story about this topic. Except my story is about small businesses and four-day weeks. Does anyone know any small businesses that might want to chat with me? Great post, BTW. Thanks!
  • After transitioning to it a month ago, I must say that I love having a 4-day work week.

    Monday 8hrs, Tuesday 14hrs, Wednesday 8hrs, Thursday 8hrs, 3 day weekend.

    It helps that our ministry meets mid-week and that most of my face-to-face meetings are packed into Tuesdays & Thursdays. And having the extra day actually makes me eager to get back into the office on Monday.

    But really in this age of connectedness, work emails on the iPhone, Twitter updates, and Facebook messages, are we really taking those days off?
  • Chum! You and me both, brother. My schedule looks much the same, although my Thursdays are your Tuesdays! Good point about being so connected we're never really "off." That's another blurred line that will have to be investigated in the days to come....
  • After transitioning to it a month ago, I must say that I love having a 4-day work week.

    Monday 8hrs, Tuesday 14hrs, Wednesday 8hrs, Thursday 8hrs, 3 day weekend.

    It helps that our ministry meets mid-week and that most of my face-to-face meetings are packed into Tuesdays & Thursdays. And having the extra day actually makes me eager to get back into the office on Monday.

    But really in this age of connectedness, work emails on the iPhone, Twitter updates, and Facebook messages, are we really taking those days off?
  • Nathan Davis
    I love this idea thoroughly. :)
  • Michelle
    I think kids (and teachers) would benefit from a 4 day week, but then there are the parents who would be up in arms about childcare for that 5th day. Although, I suppose if the majority are working a 4 day week then it is a moot point! : )
  • We will see how it goes for me.

    I work Monday - Thursday right now and am home on Friday with my daughter. Off Saturday, and have minimal, sometimes once a month responsibilities at church.

    I like it, but am still figuring out the boundaries.

    Rhett
  • Why is it that the nurse's weekend package has become so popular?
  • Nate
    This is not necessarily viable for all sectors of work. Think about your local Police Department or Fire Department. What about the Military? There will always be a big chunk of the working sector that will not be able to take time off. Add to that the people that support those individuals, throw in the rest of the world (time differences, cultural) and it adds up to something that would be nice, but not something that is that feasible at this point in time.

    That being said... For sectors of government that deal with administration, it sounds like a good way to save some of my tax dollars.
  • I think that it is viable in every sector of work. If our local police department or fire department went to a 4-day week, how would it differ to what it is right now? Most FD's have a three on, two off schedule. They work 3- 12-hour shifts, and take 2 12-hour shifts off. Construction trades have done 4 day weeks similiarly, giving workers the option of Monday or Friday off, so that when a service call comes in, workers are there to take care of it. Just because a 4-day week is implemented doesn't mean it has to be Monday-Thursday, does it?
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