What are your thoughts on the four-day work week? Could it work for your workplace?

It could work with some flexibility. I think it might have to be a week 1, week 2 schedule to accommodate payroll processing, or be flexible with which day was the day off. There would also have be considerations for the various departments and peak season. As an employee I think it is brilliant to have 3-days off. So often you spend an entire day of your weekend doing chores. I see some benefits from an employer point of view, pilot programs have had mixed results with some showing an increase in productivity whereas others have just shown an increase in stressed employees. I think to implement this successfully it has to be very flexible and there needs to be a culture of ‘just get your work done’ already in the company.

It would be difficult for our organization because we need to have services available to our clients every day of the week but it could potentially work if there was a rotating 4 days work week, where staff had different days off to ensure full coverage for the public.

Personally, a 4-day work week would be great. Not sure about working 10 hours per day as some days there is just not ‘enough’ information coming in compared to other days that feel like you are working with your hair straight back! Transition to rotating days off (Monday and Friday) to make long weekends would be terrific.

I worked 4 days a week for my last employer for 15 years and it worked out well. I had another employee who worked fulltime and one who worked 3 days a week another time so flexibility in work weeks is possible. Payroll, HR and Benefits roles have many deadlines but a well planned out schedule can be accommodated if everyone is working together to support their team.

It could help with burnout…