How about a three day weekend, every week?

The four-day work week has been a topic of increasing interest in recent years, with a number of countries and companies experimenting with this new approach to work-life balance.

As we move into 2024, the question arises: will the four-day work week become the new standard?

The evidence suggests that this shift is not only possible but increasingly likely. Countries such as Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Iceland, Lithuania, and France have already implemented or are moving towards a four-day work week.

Belgium, for instance, legislated a four-day work week back in 2022, while in the United Arab Emirates, nearly 90% of the workforce, employed by the government, can now work a four-day week.

Moreover, trials of the four-day work week have been overwhelmingly positive.

In the UK, a trial involving 61 companies and more than 2,900 workers found that 92% of the companies continued with the four-day week after the study was completed. Similarly, a trial involving 900 workers across 33 companies in the US and Ireland resulted in 97% of participants wanting to keep the four-day work week.

The benefits of a four-day work week are numerous. Research has shown that it can improve work-life balance, reduce stress, boost productivity, and even improve gender parity. In a 2022 trial, men reported spending more time on childcare and housework when working a four-day week, while women’s time on these responsibilities decreased.

However, implementing a four-day work week is not without its challenges. It requires careful planning and consideration, with companies needing to ensure that they can still meet their business needs while offering employees this additional flexibility. It also requires a shift in mindset, with companies needing to focus on outcomes and productivity rather than hours worked.

In the UK, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill, which passed through parliament in late 2023, presents a golden opportunity for employees to advocate for a four-day work week from April 2024. This bill allows workers to make two requests for flexible working hours, times, or location in a 12-month period from day one of employment.

What to consider?

For HR leaders, contemplating this seismic shift, the decision is far from straightforward.

First, there’s the client conundrum. In the relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction, how does one reconcile the truncated workweek with the expectations of clients tethered to traditional schedules? The global environment further complicates this, as multinational entities must grapple with varying cultural norms and business practices – what works in Oslo might not in Osaka.

Then comes the question of intensity versus duration. Can the condensation of the work week into four days inadvertently stoke the fires of employee burnout? This concern is particularly acute in high-pressure environments where the ‘more with less’ philosophy risks morphing into an oppressive mantra.

The impact on the non-permanent workforce is another grey area. Part-time and contractual staff often navigate the peripheries of corporate policies, and a shift to a four-day paradigm could disproportionately affect their financial and professional stability. This, in turn, raises ethical considerations about equitable treatment in the workplace.

Diversity and inclusion, those twin pillars of modern corporate virtue, also warrant a careful examination. While a shorter work week might be a beacon for certain demographics, it’s crucial to ensure that this flexibility doesn’t inadvertently sideline other segments of the workforce.

Performance metrics, too, must undergo a recalibration. Traditional KPIs, often predicated on time spent rather than output, may become obsolete in a four-day framework. This necessitates a rethinking of how productivity and efficiency are quantified – a challenge that straddles the domains of HR and operations.

Moreover, the ripple effects extend to recruitment and retention strategies. While a four-day week might be an attractive lure for prospective talent, it’s equally vital to assess how current employees adapt to and perceive this change. Will it bolster loyalty, or breed discontent?

And amidst all this, the spectre of legal compliance looms large. Labor laws, contractual obligations, and employee benefits are a labyrinthine web that requires meticulous navigation to avoid costly entanglements.

Food for thought

While the four-day work week may not become the standard for all companies and countries in 2024, it is clear that it is becoming an increasingly popular and viable option.

As more companies see the benefits of this approach, and as more countries pass legislation to support it, the four-day work week is likely to become a more common feature of the working landscape. HR professionals and leaders should therefore be prepared to consider and potentially implement this new approach to work.

HRD Connect Curators of the New Business Landscape. HRD Connect produces industry-recognized content for senior HR leaders. Through articles, case studies, Q&As, podcasts, events, and more, we offer truly progressive and cutting-edge insights designed to help people leaders address core HR challenges and add greater value to their business.

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