Do More in Four: Why It’s Time for a Shorter Workweek

“We believe that the four-day workweek is inevitable,” assert Work Time Revolution CEO O’Connor and journalist Lindzon in this convincing manifesto. The authors contend that the century-old five-day workweek no longer fits the modern business context, where employees, particularly millennials and Gen Zers, rank work-life balance as their top priority when selecting an employer. For these workers, flexible hours and a shorter workweek outrank salary when it comes to job satisfaction. Beginning in 2021, O’Connor enlisted companies in Ireland, the U.S., and Canada in four-day workweek pilot programs and discovered promising results. In one of the North American studies, for example, the 41 participating companies realized an average revenue boost of 15% over the course of the yearlong program, supporting the authors’ contention that the model encourages more efficiency and less burnout. Employees ranked the experience 9.1 on a scale of 10, with the vast majority saying they wanted to keep the schedule. The book concludes with a blueprint for making such a change in one’s own business. The key, the authors say, is not to do the same amount of work with increased intensity but to fundamentally redesign and streamline operations. Drawing from myriad studies and pilot programs, the authors make a strong case for both the viability and efficacy of a shorter workweek. The result is a vital resource for forward-thinking companies. (Jan.)