Current Events > New Study found Four-Day a week work week was a, "resounding success."

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/19/news/economy/new-zealand-four-day-work-week-perpetual-guardian/index.html

A company in New Zealand that tested four-day work weeks says the experiment was so successful that it wants to make it permanent.

Perpetual Guardian, which helps customers manage their wills and estates, released the results of its two-month trial this week. The company said its employees all reported greater productivity, better work-life balance and lower stress levels from working one less day a week.

The employees more than 240 of them were still paid for five days a week during the experiment, which ran from the beginning of March to the end of April. The trial was conducted by outside researchers.

"It was just a theory, something I thought I wanted to try because I wanted to create a better environment for my team," Perpetual Guardian CEO Andrew Barnes told CNN. "I'm humbled that my team has responded, and they went beyond my wildest dreams."

In a survey taken late last year, only 54% of respondents said they felt able to manage their work-life balance. After the trial, that number jumped to 78%.

Staff stress levels also decreased by around 7%, while metrics used to measure team engagement rose around 20% on average.

I recently just switched to a 4-day a week work week and I know my productivity has sky-rocketed. It's still 40 hours, but obviously one less day in the office. My company offered a whole bunch of summer flex scheduling for testing, and this was one of the options. Hopefully it stays.
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Hope this keeps. Working five days a week full-time gets very draining no matter what you do. To me you shouldn't have to hate going to work, unless your boss and/or coworkers suck.
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I do 4 days 10 hour shifts for 2 years now its great. I think I'd do 3 days 12 hour shifts to if it were a option.
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apocalyptic_4 posted...

I do 4 days 10 hour shifts for 2 years now its great. I think I'd do 3 days 12 hour shifts to if it were a option.

Definitely.
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I had a manufacturing job that was a 4 day work week. I had to work one day in the weekend though(not a huge deal), and I had to get to work at 5am in the morning and get out at 330pm..and then go to bed at 9pm at the latest. I hated the job and those hours, but that extra day really can make a difference.

I wouldn't mind going back to a 4 day work week, including one weekend, if the hours were better
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Arcanine2009 posted...

I had a job that was a 4 day work week. I had to work one day in the weekend though, and I had to get to work at 5am in the morning and get out at 330pm..and then go to bed at 9pm at the latest. I hated the job and those hours, but that extra day really can make a difference

Yeah, a working a weekend can suck for sure, but if you land something like I have, you get Fri-Sun off which is so nice. Sure, 7-5 sucks, but I'll take it for that extra day off.
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They should make the work day longer near the end of the week. So say it's a 5 day work week, 40 hours total

Monday - 4 hours
Tuesday - 5 hours
Wednesday - 7 hours
Thursday - 10 hours
Friday - 14 hours

People will be more motivated to work longer near the end of the week, especially on Friday
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I work 10-12 hours a day and working 1-2 less days is worth it. You're already at work, you might as well just spend an extra few hours there to not have to go 1 day >_>
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Damn_Underscore posted...

They should make the work day longer near the end of the week. So say it's a 5 day work week, 40 hours total

Monday - 4 hours
Tuesday - 5 hours
Wednesday - 7 hours
Thursday - 10 hours
Friday - 14 hours

People will be more motivated to work longer near the end of the week, especially on Friday

what caused your brain damage and how can I avoid it
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Damn_Underscore posted...

They should make the work day longer near the end of the week. So say it's a 5 day work week, 40 hours total

Monday - 4 hours
Tuesday - 5 hours
Wednesday - 7 hours
Thursday - 10 hours
Friday - 14 hours

People will be more motivated to work longer near the end of the week, especially on Friday

what the fuck
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Tappor posted...

Damn_Underscore posted...

They should make the work day longer near the end of the week. So say it's a 5 day work week, 40 hours total

Monday - 4 hours
Tuesday - 5 hours
Wednesday - 7 hours
Thursday - 10 hours
Friday - 14 hours

People will be more motivated to work longer near the end of the week, especially on Friday

what the fuck

Agreed

Terrible idea

apocalyptic_4 posted...

I do 4 days 10 hour shifts for 2 years now its great. I think I'd do 3 days 12 hour shifts to if it were a option.

At my last job, I was working 12 hour+ shifts. I agree. I rather just get it all done than going to work almost every day.
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Even more lazy people. If given the chance I would 7 12s
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wow people were happy having to work 4 days but were being paid for 5?

crazy

NightMarishPie posted...

Arcanine2009 posted...

I had a job that was a 4 day work week. I had to work one day in the weekend though, and I had to get to work at 5am in the morning and get out at 330pm..and then go to bed at 9pm at the latest. I hated the job and those hours, but that extra day really can make a difference

Yeah, a working a weekend can suck for sure, but if you land something like I have, you get Fri-Sun off which is so nice. Sure, 7-5 sucks, but I'll take it for that extra day off.

One weekend is not too bad.You can shedule appointments on the one weekday you're off.

Mon-thurs is a dream. 7 to 5 isn't too shabby.
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Fam_Fam posted...

wow people were happy having to work 4 days but were being paid for 5?

crazy

Question is how many hrs they were working. 4 day work weeks are 10 hrs a day. Maybe for the experiment they worked 32 hrs.

Anyway, times like these makes me wish I could work hourly for life vs salary if I end up working a ton of overtime hrs.
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Ive done all varieties. 4 10s is great in salaried positions, but doesnt help wage workers
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This is like the small town in Europe that removed all stoplights. It's great on a small scale but not really something that can work world wide. Of course this works for a small company in New Zealand; where 70% or the employees are sheep.

I've wanted this for years, but it'll probably never come to the UK. An extra day off per week makes a massive difference.
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were still paid for five days a week during the experiment

...why?
Were these all salaried employees?

...March to end of April?

wonder how they perform from 1 fiscal year to the next with 4 day work weeks. now that's what I want to see.
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Studies have been showing this for decades. Corporate America would still use slavery though if possible.
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Different article:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90205776/the-four-day-work-week-works

I wonder if it would be more useful to take Wednesday off instead of Friday?

halomonkey1_3_5 posted...

Damn_Underscore posted...

They should make the work day longer near the end of the week. So say it's a 5 day work week, 40 hours total

Monday - 4 hours
Tuesday - 5 hours
Wednesday - 7 hours
Thursday - 10 hours
Friday - 14 hours

People will be more motivated to work longer near the end of the week, especially on Friday

what caused your brain damage and how can I avoid it

Lmao
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ASithLord7 posted...

halomonkey1_3_5 posted...

Damn_Underscore posted...

They should make the work day longer near the end of the week. So say it's a 5 day work week, 40 hours total

Monday - 4 hours
Tuesday - 5 hours
Wednesday - 7 hours
Thursday - 10 hours
Friday - 14 hours

People will be more motivated to work longer near the end of the week, especially on Friday

what caused your brain damage and how can I avoid it

Lmao

Thank god for all those reactions, that suggestion almost gave me an aneurysm

On-topic: Yes, four day workweek should be standard at this point. Either take Wednesday off to split the week in half, or take Friday off for perma-three day weekends. Of my ~three years in the corporate workforce, I can't even begin to count the amount of hours wasted every Friday afternoon when everyone starts fucking around.

There's no reason for five day workweeks anymore.
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I just started a job where I'm working a out 30-32 hours a week. I love it. I'm getting paid a little bit less or maybe the same for when I was working a 40 hour week, but I'll take the extra day.

The hours are a little weird. Stuff like 8pm-4pm and 11pm-7pm. Sometimes stuff in between, but you get used to it.
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more hours/less days is awesome. would definitely take 14h days 3 times a week over the standard 8h/5d

specialkid8 posted...

This is like the small town in Europe that removed all stoplights. It's great on a small scale but not really something that can work world wide. Of course this works for a small company in New Zealand; where 70% or the employees are sheep.

I work 4, 10s in a 2 billion dollar company but okay lol
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If given a choice, I would prefer to do 4 10 hour days than my current 5 8 hour days.
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apocalyptic_4 posted...

I do 4 days 10 hour shifts for 2 years now its great. I think I'd do 3 days 12 hour shifts to if it were a option.

For me I think it depends on the commute. Right now I live ten minutes away from work so working six days isnt sooo bad, but if I worked farther from home, I think Id rather work less longer days.
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I've done both but I actually prefer 5 8hr days. I don't mind going to work and it makes me more productive in my life outside of it if I'm forced to get up and do things.

Once I'm in motion I'm more likely to stay in motion. I don't mind going to the gym immediately after work but I have no interest if that's the main thing I'm going out to do. Same with running errands and stuff.
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Jiek_Fafn posted...

I've done both but I actually prefer 5 8hr days. I don't mind going to work and it makes me more productive in my life outside of it if I'm forced to get up and do things.

Once I'm in motion I'm more likely to stay in motion. I don't mind going to the gym immediately after work but I have no interest if that's the main thing I'm going out to do. Same with running errands and stuff.

As much as I would like a three day weekend every weekend, I kind of agree with this. I have a bad habit of getting super lazy on days off or getting impulses to spend a bunch of money just to go out and do something during the day. I don't hate my job, but I still don't like to go to work, but having my free time limited motivates me more to get my ass in gear and do things that improve myself.

I'd be happier if maybe jobs observed more holidays (such as Easter) for more three day weekends or I had more optional days to take off, but I don't think I'd want to do only 4 days every week.

My job used to have 4 day work weeks but took them away.

It was Sunday-Wednesday 1p-11p, Friday-Monday 7a-5p, 12p-10p and Wednesday-Saturday 1p-11p

My new supervisor came in and for some reason didn't like them, so she took them away. Most employees would love a 4 day work week. She's out on FLMA right now but I wanna talk to her when she gets back.

I wanted to come to her with a presentation so this helps
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Shit, bring on the 3 day work week tbh.
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NOM posted...

Shit, bring on the 3 day work week tbh.

Those are significantly less productive than 5 day
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4 - 10s with an optional 8 hr over the 3 days off is a thing of beauty. You catch your 40, and if you need that OT bump to buy something, pay a bill, whatever, it's there if you need it. And the 3 days are there to recharge if you need that more.

But 4x10s should really be the way to go by now, at least from my hourly-paid perspective.
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4 day work weeks are much better. One less day dealing with commuting.
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Seems completely incompatible with having kids. Set hours for most salaried employees is pointless anyway. I'm comtracted to 35 hours a week. It doesn't matter when or where I do those hours.

I used to work 4 10s, but I hated it because the walk to get to your work spot was 13 minutes from parking lot to spot in factory, and that was fast walking. Drive was 15 minutes.

I was spending about 13 minutes to clock in, 18 minutes to get gathered up and leave. (Wash hands, take a piss, wash hands again, get stuff gathered, walk to car). Took me about 5 minutes to make lunch at home and pack it, then about 30 minutes to shower, eat dinner, and then be ready to wind down.

I was spending about 1hr 30 mins on time getting to/leaving/preparing/ winding down from work. So really, by the time it was said and done, the work day was taking up almost 12 1/2 hours of the day, and the shift I worked was something stipid like 2pm-12am. So when you were done with work, there was just no way to do anything else that dat and that was incredibly frustrating
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