Can You Imagine What You’ll Do with Your Extra Day?
The recovery from the COVID-19 crisis offers the workplace an opportunity to rethink and retool its schedule. Responding to the pandemic caused many employers and employees to quickly and substantially shift their ways of working. Millions of Canadians sheltering in place began working from home and connecting with their colleagues over platforms such as Zoom. Take out and curbside delivery became standard fare.
Recently, another design to revamp the work world is beginning to gain traction, at least as a possibility: the idea of a four-day week. This is not a compressed week with the regular 40 hours compacted into one less day. Rather it is full-timers working fewer hours (30) for the regular pay. One might ask, “Why would any employer support a shortened workweek at the same salary level?” While this change seems illogical, it makes proven sense. It rests firmly on peer-reviewed research, which concluded that employees can be as productive in 30 hours as they are in 40. Better rested workers waste less time. Studies have affirmed that fewer workdays reduce the number of sick days and decrease a company’s operating costs.
It stands to reason that three-days off per week leaves more time for other things, thereby increasing more free time and better work-life balance. Happier employees increase the potential for greater company loyalty which has been long associated with increased productivity.
It seems realistic for business owners to consider seriously shortening their workplace schedules. This would be a new way to create happier staff and a better bottom line.
Can you imagine what you’ll do with your extra day?
-Submitted by Nancy Wales, csj