The last few years have seen a lot of proposed changes to the way we work — including how many days people clock in.
Only 5% of employers are currently offering a four-day workweek either as a formal policy or on a case-by-case basis, according to a recent survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. One percent of employers are in the process of piloting a four-day schedule, and an additional 14% are considering implementation.
"As the traditional work week saw a major upheaval with the pandemic, a few employers are implementing a four-day workweek for recruiting and retention reasons," said Julie Stich, vice president of content at the International Foundation, in a release. "However, most employers, even if interested, are struggling to figure out how to make that a reality while trying to meet business operation goals."
Read more: Why this company reinstated a 4-day workweek for the summer
The International Foundation defines a four-day workweek as having a decrease in the required weekly work hours from 40 to 32 hours. Employers who have either tested or implemented the change cited a number of drivers, including an uptick in requests from employees for a shorter week, as well as improved recruitment and retention strategies.
But just as there are advantages, employers have brought up disadvantages, too: 38% said it would be difficult to implement company-wide, 36% said it would have a negative impact on business and 32% said it would make their team unable to support their customer base. As a result, some companies have turned to other strategies, like a compressed week — when an employee works forty hours in four days instead of five — to try and reach a compromise.
See the pros, cons and a few potential alternatives to four-day workweeks, and the percentage of employers who cited them as a major factor in their decision making, according to the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans:
