Many business owners tend to scoff at the idea of a four-day workweek. Yet, while such scheduling might not be feasible in all settings, alternative schedules can prove popular and profitable in large companies.
Bigger companies are an especially great fit for shaving an extra day off the workweek. It could very well boost employee morale and productivity, contrary to some executives’ beliefs.
Business owners who think that production will falter due to the loss of a workday might be pleasantly surprised at the result.
Offering a modified schedule is more likely to establish an employee-friendly environment in which staff are motivated to do their best and create a more positive work culture. Employees will be very appreciative when they have an extra day to spend with the kids, run errands, do the laundry or just rejuvenate by going for a hike or reading in the park.
They will also treasure the additional time to do anything from helping the kids with school projects and meeting friends on the weekends to having date nights and catching up on favorite television series.
Business owners who oppose adjusted schedules express concerns that personnel simply cannot be as productive in a condensed workweek as opposed to a traditional, five-day schedule. The thought is that staff will be exhausted, leading to drop-offs in productivity that will eat away at potential revenue generation.
However, that rationale fails to take several factors into consideration. For instance, your now-happier employees will see company bosses as attentive to their needs, giving them a built-in incentive to do their jobs in a heightened capacity. In many ways, people with a modified workweek are less likely to burnout.
The phrase work smarter, not harder, comes into play within this context. People do not want to work late every night just to be drained on their extra day off. Rather, they are likely to be more creative in finding efficiencies that make for quicker and better results that save money and increase revenue.
A reduced work schedule achieves maximum success when the day off is on Friday, allowing employees to get a head-start on the weekend. That could mean more time to kick back and relax or taking advantage of the opportunity to beat Friday evening traffic for a weekend at the beach.
While it is impossible to expect all employees to be eager to return to work on Monday, it is entirely feasible to expect that they be more well-rested and ready to start the tasks and projects at hand.
Companies seen as progressive also see positive results in the areas of employee retention and recruitment. A nod to staff in the form of a four-day workweek could influence your best employees to stay at your establishment and turndown outside job offers.
At the same time, top talent makes a bee line for companies that are known to value their employees and their personal lives through their flexibility.
By encouraging a four-day schedule, a company can cultivate increased job satisfaction, more driven employees, stronger work product and increased efficiencies. A shorter workweek can be the path to long-term, sustained success.
