Should We Switch to a Four-Day Workweek?

The global health crisis has created a lot of uncertainty over the past year and a half. Leaders and employees alike are grappling with what “work” should look like and how it should all be organized. One idea that’s been gaining steam is the idea of transitioning to a four-day workweek instead of the traditional five—but is this a good idea? Is reducing burnout, increasing engagement, and bolstering productivity a simple matter of cutting down on the amount of time we’re expected to work? The numbers can shed some light on this interesting question. According to a recent Gallup poll, employees who work six days a week report higher levels of burnout. Nearly 40 percent said they were exhausted “often” or “always,” while 26 percent of employees who worked five days per week said the same. Only 23 percent of those who worked four days per week reported high levels of burnout. While this data is by no means comprehensive, it does reveal that we might be going about the organization of work incorrectly.