Working week

WORKING WEEK
Have you heard the latest workplace buzz? Gather round the water cooler, the rumours are true -- a 4 day work week may soon be a reality. TUC (Trade Union Congress) is calling on the government to help people work fewer hours while getting paid the same.
Now, you’re probably wondering how such a favourable situation is even possible. Why would business owners allow their employees to work only 4 days a week? Won’t the company suffer as a result? Well, you can thank your new robot coworkers. As we explored in one of our other recent blog articles, technological developments could make it possible for employees to accomplish the same amount of work in less time and still ensure customers are supported.
AI technology will significantly disrupt every aspect of every industry in every country including how and when we work. Within the near future, we’re likely to see an increase in remote and more flexible work schedules like the 4 day work week. In fact, TUC thinks that a 4 day work week could become a reality within this century if businesses are forced to share the benefits of new technology with their employees.
Some companies, like Perpetual Guardian from New Zealand, are already realising the benefits of a 4 day work. Not only does a 4 day work week increase employee satisfaction, company commitment and teamwork, but it also decreases stress levels. Even better, reducing employees’ work schedules to a 4 day work week doesn’t harm their productivity or company output.
Join us as we take a closer look at some of the benefits and disadvantages associated with a 4 day work week.
What is a 4 Day Work Week?
You may already know someone that works compressed hours and as such works full-time over 35 hours over 4 days. A four day work week isn’t a compressed work schedule, but rather reduced hours. So, the employee would work around 28 hours over four days and have a three-day weekend.
A 4 day work week may seem like a radical idea, but we’ve gradually reduced the number of hours worked within a typical work week since the late 19th century. In 1890, the United States government estimated that a full-time employee within a manufacturing plant worked an average of 100 hours a week. By the mid-20th century, manufacturing employees only worked 40 hours a week.