A four-day work week is where the five working days schedule is compacted into a four-day module by adding two extra hours of compensation on each of the days. So, instead of working eight to nine hours a day, employees work ten to eleven hours a day for four days.
It is worth noting that this also covers extra tea breaks and lunch breaks. Following this schedule, workers get a three-day weekend with working hours of an extra day being covered by the additional working hours.
For additional legal advice on contracted working hours be sure to do your due diligence when choosing an employment lawyer. Our team at DPH Legal have extensive experience regarding these matters.
This strategy is attracting more employers as it fulfils a business perspective while providing an excellent work-life balance. Here is a look at some of the benefits the 4-day workweek approach has to offer.
Motivates Workers To Work Even Harder
The idea of getting three-day weekends can be very motivating to employees. While working 10-11 hours a day for four days can strain employees, the idea of a long weekend at the end of the week does serve as motivation for them to work harder. While working 40-hour weeks can be draining, employees can still enjoy the benefits of working hard as it could help further their careers, considering that most companies love people who do overtime.
It Helps Workers Take a Break from their Daily Commute
For people living in metro cities, having to travel to their place of work every day requires a lot of patience considering that they have to deal with traffic daily – which can sometimes be gruelling and a waste of time and energy. The extra two hours can help employees avoid rush hour traffic as they are still in the office during peak commute hours. Furthermore, a 4-day work week means that they have three days where they do not have to commute to work.
It Doesn’t Mess Up Workflow
Since employees work more hours a day, that doesn’t mess up workflow. The extra hours mean that they get all the time they need to complete their tasks within the same day, so they do not have to pass it on to the next day. Lesser work hours can lead to employees missing the flow of work and can be distracting. Ten to eleven-hour workdays motivate workers to concentrate and finish their tasks within the day.
It is Environmentally-Friendly
Four-day work weeks considerably reduce each worker’s carbon footprint by lowering commute pollution. One day less spent travelling to work and back means a considerable reduction in greenhouse emissions.
Another thing about the four-day workweek is that it is flexible and allows employees to choose their schedules. As a result, workers choose the days that they want to go to work, which leads to work satisfaction and productivity since they get to come in on days they prefer rather than on predetermined days.
