4-day work weeks should be an addition, not a sacrifice

The implementation or trial of four-day work weeks is often framed as a trade-off for other flexible arrangements, which can negate the benefits it produces for the workforce.

Sabrina Scherm, customer success manager at HiBob, recently shared some insight on how Australian organisations should be approaching either trialling or implementing four-day work weeks – underlining that they should not be introduced at the expense of other flexible working arrangements.

“At a time when Australia is grappling with falling labour productivity, Boston University academics’ research provides compelling evidence that a four-day workweek can be a powerful win-win, boosting both employee wellbeing and business output,” said Scherm.

“The future of work isn’t just about when we work; it’s about how we work – and how we deliver what’s needed of us. HiBob’s research shows that while 65 per cent of workers want a four-day week, only a third would sacrifice their flexible arrangements for it.

“This sentiment is even stronger among women, with just 23 per cent willing to trade hybrid work for a shorter week, compared to 41 per cent of men. Employees are rightly cautious about pitfalls like workload compression or losing the hard-won autonomy they now value so highly.”

According to Scherm, the message for Australian organisations becomes clear when approaching a four-day work week.

“The message for organisations is straightforward from here: if you’re thinking about introducing a four-day week, it needs to be in addition to what you offer employees, not a trade-off.

“Getting it right is about more than a simple policy change; it’s about redesigning how work actually gets done so teams can be truly effective in a shorter week. If you try to force a compromise without putting in that effort, you risk breaking trust and watching your team’s morale and engagement fall by the wayside.”

As AI is continually integrated into the workplace, many organisational leaders have professed that it will directly benefit productivity. As previously reported by HR Leader, US Senator Bernie Sanders argued that this productivity increase should result in an increase of four-day work weeks.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Sanders labelled a four-day work week as “not a radical idea”.

“Technology is gonna work to improve us, not just the people who own the technology and the CEOs of large corporations,” he told Rogan.

“You are a worker, your productivity is increasing because we give you AI, right? Instead of throwing you out on the street, I’m gonna reduce your work week to 32 hours.”

Sanders claimed that the freed-up time for employees from the more monotonous tasks that fill up their day should be redirected into their lives through avenues such as a four-day work week.

“Let’s use technology to benefit workers,” he said.

“That means give you more time with your family, with your friends, for education, whatever the hell you wanna do.”