The Challenges of a 4-Day Workweek

There are many ways to increase your team's productivity, but one of the less obvious ones is to consider an alternative work week. Specifically, the idea in question is the four-day workweek, which advocates argue could potentially increase productivity by virtue of working less.

The 100-80-100 Theory

The four-day workweek utilizes what is called the 100-80-100 theory. It states that employees will get 100 percent of their work done in 80 percent of the time while earning 100 percent of their pay. Those in favor of the four-day workweek claim that this can be done by cutting out unnecessary meetings and ensuring that employees have access to technology that would allow for easier use of resources.

The four-day workweek has been introduced because people get burnt out when they spend most of their time at work and don’t get a chance to enjoy their lives outside the office. It’s no surprise that work can influence people’s physical and mental health, which can lead to greater problems at an organizational level. Keeping your employees happy is key if you want to achieve your business’ full potential.

What to Consider for a Four-Day Workweek

If you think your organization might be a good fit for the four-day workweek, you can start by thinking about the following:

• Your industry: Some industries can adapt to the four-day workweek more easily than others. For example, retail and healthcare might see some challenges surface while trying to implement this policy.
• Your company culture and policy: Consider how your new policy would influence your existing company culture and policies. Would it impact the roles that people have within your company? Some organizations might have difficulty adapting to these new policies because their culture and existing policies are too rigid to accept this change.
• Maintaining productivity and efficiency: Will a four-day workweek actually increase your productivity, or would it actively hinder it? Would it make people work longer days and decrease morale, or could it improve your team's work-life balance?
• Your financial implications: Is it worth the costs to try a four-day workweek? Implementing this strategy might involve certain unexpected costs, like schedule restructuring, overtime pay, and productivity changes, that need to be addressed ahead of time.
• Your customer support: You cannot let your four-day workweek initiatives interfere with your ability to provide customers with the support they need.
• Your geographical and cultural factors: Depending on the region, you might find cultural differences in the attitudes towards work and leisure time that might impact how well you can implement a four-day workweek.

If you find that technology is a barrier to a four-day workweek, you can always contact Horne & Benik at (603) 499-4400 to get over these challenges! We’re happy to help you implement the work policies and procedures your organization needs to thrive.