Catherwood LibraryILR School

Since the Covid pandemic, employers who are able to offer the benefit of flexible working arrangements have been increasingly trying the idea of the 4-day work week, in an attempt to see if it will decrease burnout and stress, which lead to mistakes and employees leaving. Some economists feel that too many employees are at work longer than necessary, and if work was organized efficiently in order to allow employees shorter work days or weeks, benefits would follow, as with a Swedish trial involving nurses that shortened their daily hours to six, which decreased their burnout. A pilot program was started earlier this year which so far has involved 22 US companies and 70 in the UK , with the companies agreeing to try it for six months with no reduction in pay and a significant reduction in hours, often involving Fridays off. The data isn't in yet, as the trial is still ongoing, but it does seem that for many, decreasing Fridays during the summer, or entirely, or every other week, or having no meetings on Fridays, is increasingly becoming the norm/desired outcome due to a natural desire to be less involved on Fridays. For some employees who have tried this, it's changed their lives and they can't envision going back.