Organizations are continuing to study the potential outcomes of switching to a 4-day work week. One recent study found that workers were able to get the same amount of work done in a 4-day week as they typically did in a 5-day week.
Additionally, ResumeBuilder.com’s survey of business leaders earlier this year found that close to one-third of companies planned to implement a 4-day work week by the end of 2023.
In August, ResumeBuilder.com surveyed 1,000 full-time office workers who do not already have a 4-day work week to find out how many would be in favor of switching.
Results include:
- More than 9 in 10 office workers are in favor of a 4-day work week
- 3 in 4 would switch jobs, and 1 in 3 would take a pay cut if offered a 4-day work week
- 96% of respondents in favor say it would improve work/life balance
- 88% of respondents in favor also say it would improve productivity at work
- 1 in 5 admit to working half days or less on Fridays
More Than 9 in 10 Office Workers in Favor of a 4-Day Work Week
Overall, 94% of respondents say they would be ‘somewhat’ (37%) or ‘very enthusiastic’ (57%) about switching to a 4-day work week.
Six percent of respondents say they would be ‘not very’ (5%) or ‘not at all enthusiastic’ (1%) about switching to this schedule.
“It’s very clear that workers are enthusiastic about a 4-day work week, and this could be an alternative for organizations to give workers more work/life balance, rather than instituting remote or hybrid work schedules if that does not fit with their culture,” comments Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller. “Companies requiring in-person work are missing out on employees who only want remote/hybrid work, so a 4-day work week could be a good compromise that allows companies to attract more qualified applicants.”
Those Against 4-Day Work Week Want to Keep Shorter Days
The overarching sentiment among the 6% of office workers who would not want a 4-day work week is that they would prefer to spread out their work commitments over a longer period of time.
Write-in responses included:
- “The extra hours each day would be draining.”
- “It would be too much to get work done in a 4-day work week. I think I would burn out honestly.”
- “Because I would have to work over 10 hours each day and still possibly need to come into work on Friday.”
- “Because I’m not trying to work less. We are a startup that’s going to change the way non-profits fundraise so we’re on a mission.”
There is validity to their concerns, as when respondents were asked how many hours per day they estimate they would need to work if they did switch to a 4-day schedule, 46% of respondents said 9+ hours per day.
1 in 3 Office Workers Would Take a Pay Cut to Have a 4-Day Work Week
When asked if they would be willing to take a pay cut to have a 4-day schedule, even assuming their job responsibilities stayed the same, 36% of respondents in favor of switching (or 33% of total respondents) say they would be somewhat or highly likely to take a pay cut.
Additionally, 82% of those in favor of switching to a 4-day work week (or 77% of total respondents) say they would be somewhat or highly likely to switch jobs if they were offered a 4-day work week.
Majority Believe 4-Day Work Week Would Improve Productivity, Work/Life Balance
Ninety-six percent of respondents in favor of a 4-day work week say it would ‘somewhat’ (40%) or ‘vastly improve’ (56%) their work/life balance. Eighty-eight percent of those in favor (or 82% of total respondents) also say it would ‘somewhat’ (43%) or ‘vastly improve’ (45%) their productivity level at work.
1 in 5 Full-Time Workers Admit They Work Half Days or Less on Fridays
Although respondents report working more hours per week than they are expected to (for example, 59% of respondents are expected to work 40-hour weeks, and one-third of this group say they work more than 40 hours), it turns out, many still don’t work five full days per week.
Respondents who said they do not work any sort of special schedule, such as summer Fridays or 9/80 hours, were asked to estimate how many hours they actually spend working on Fridays. Twenty-two percent say, on average, they work five hours on Fridays or less.
As many respondents aren’t working full hours on Fridays anyway, the transition to a 4-day work week could be easier than businesses expect.
“Some businesses may still be hesitant to change to a 4-day work week, as they will need to renegotiate employment contracts, address holiday pay, and decide on a work schedule for part-timers. However, this change may be worth the challenge as it could also increase employee retention by supporting a better work/life balance,” finishes Haller.
Methodology
This online poll was commissioned by ResumeBuilder.com and conducted via Pollfish from August 2 – August 5, 2023. Respondents consist of a national sample of 1,000 full-time office workers who do not work a 4-day week, are between the ages of 22 and 65, employed for wages, have a household income of at least $25,000 per year, and work at a company with six or more employees. Learn more about Pollfish’s survey methodology or contact [email protected] for more information.
