The global pandemic has given us an opportunity to rethink how we do things. The work from home has opened a window to experiment with telecommunicating and a four-day workweek. Leaders of many nations have raised the possibility of a shortened workweek as a way to increase job opportunities, encourage local tourism, increase productivity as well as help with work-life balance.
Job Postings With Four-Day Workweek Have Tripled Since 2018
Author and organizational psychologist Adam Grant tweeted out some thoughts earlier this year about the four-day work-week. He explained, “The Monday-Friday grind is a human invention. This is not to say that things can’t change. Indeed, they are changing. Just very slowly. Job postings that mention four-day workweeks have tripled since 2018. Nevertheless, they still only represent around 1% of jobs today.”
Trials of a #4DayWeek in Iceland were an “overwhelming success” and a number of other trials are being run across the world, from Spain to New Zealand. 🏆🧪🌎
It’s clear that shorter working time should be at the heart of our post-pandemic recovery.https://t.co/kQyKPLkaWc
— NEF (@NEF) July 6, 2021
Iceland Tried A Four-Day Workweek & It Was A Success
Iceland analysed the effect a four-day week would have on employees there. They paid employees the same salaries for working shorter hours between 2015 and 2019. The study concluded that happier, less-stressed employees did better work and were more productive. In fact, Iceland declared the experiment as an overwhelming success. Thereafter, many workers have transitioned to this new shorter-hour arrangement. Indian Government To Allow Companies To Have 4-Day Work Weeks With Longer Shifts.
It’s time to start talking about something I’ve been working on and why: a public campaign for transitioning to a #4dayweek. I hope you’ll read and share this thread because we’re going to need everyone to make this happen; and sign on at https://t.co/W6ijRieCZa 🧵
— Jon Leland (@JonathanLeland) June 29, 2021
Majority Of Iceland’s Workforce Is Heading For A Four-Day Work Week
Overall, around 1% of Iceland’s working-age population took part in the four-day work week experiment. Workplaces ranging from offices to hospitals and preschools were included in the study. The overwhelming results inspired many of them to transition from a 40-hour workweek to a 35- or 36-hour week. The majority of Iceland’s workforce is heading in this direction.
Also read: Mumbai Is World’s Most Stressful City To Live In; Iceland’s Reykjavík Is Least Stressful
The evidence demonstrates that now is the time for the UK to switch to a #4dayweek without a reduction in pay for better health and wellbeing and much more… https://t.co/u94wsA6trA
— Mark Swift (@Mark_Sw1ft) July 5, 2021
Spain & New Zealand May Soon Introduce A Four-Day Work Week
The Spanish and New Zealand government is also weighing the possibility of four-day workweeks. In December, Unilever embarked on a year-long trial of this same concept for its employees working in New Zealand. The four-day week is picking up momentum during the pandemic especially when people are prioritising mental health.
We are really hoping that India too follows suit after these countries.
