Four day week, way of the future?

• Marty G
• 15 years ago
• Categories: employment

How would you like to work  a four-day, ten-hour per day week, rather than a five-day week?

A number of organisations in the US have adopted the 4-day week to save energy costs during the recession, and it’s working so well for employers and workers that it may become permanent. A survey I saw mentioned on Fox (I was just channel-surfing, honest!) found that 7% of businesses had gone to a four day week as a cost saver. The report reckoned that, even as the recession ends, more organisations, are looking at going to the 4-day week including schools and universities.

The biggest organisation to give it a try is the Utah State public service. A report on the experiment found:

• 13% reduction in energy costs were realised
• 82% of workers wanted to keep the 4-day week
• worker morale was higher and they were more productive due to less down-time at the start and end of each day
• fewer sick days were taken (accounting for the fact that there are fewer days worked, of course). Workers are at their jobs 9% more. Paid overtime is down.
• workers saved on commuting costs, $35o per worker in petrol costs alone per year
• in total, carbon emissions were reduced by 12,000 tons
• customers liked the longer hours at the DMV etc because it made it easier for them to get there outside their own work hours
• many employees use their Friday for volunteering

So what do you reckon? Is the four-day week the way of the future?