4-Day Workweek: How realistic is it? đ§
Itâs no secret that working 9-to-5 for 5 days a week was never ideal for anyone; 9 hours isnât enough time to get everything done, and 5 days doesnât fit in with the average humanâs energy cycle.
The pandemic and the âGreat Resignationâ have shifted workplace flexibility: remote work has become the norm and a trend that some companies intend to continue. It has also exposed how important work-life balance is to both employees and employers. Flexibility has never been more in demand. Thus, some companies are now contemplating a 4-day workweek as a way to attract and retain top talent while maintaining productivity.
In fact, the demand for shorter weeks has been so great that tech companies like Basecamp, Bit.io, Buffer, Shopify, Elephant Ventures, Kickstarter, and Microsoft Japan all have done trial runs of 32-hour work weeks or have adopted 4-day workweeks on a seasonal or permanent basis. Great stuff! đ„ł
But â although a shorter week inevitably contributes to the demand for more flexible work â does it tackle the risk of employee burnout? Or could it, in fact, only add to this growing concern for much of the workforce?
After six months of the world's biggest 4-day workweek trial, âmost of the 33 companies and 903 workers trialling the schedule, with no reduction in pay, are unlikely ever to go back to a standard working weekâ, according to sources.
At the end of the day, this comes down to embracing change. Quality over quantity of hours should be at the forefront of this discussion! When employees have more free time, they can spend more time with their loved ones, have more energy while working, and when theyâre not working, theyâre less stressed because the week doesn't seem so long. A traditional 9-5 job can make people feel like they're chained to their desks until 5 o'clock rolls around. Relaxed work environments can encourage creativity and innovation, which are essential for productivity and happiness at work.
So itâs time to bring current discussions around flexible work to the next level. STOP fitting your life around your job and land a remote job that fits around YOUR lifestyle!
Donât know where to start? Donât worry â I can help!
In the Remote Job Academy, Iâll show you where to find REAL remote jobs, teach you how to apply in a way that gets you interviews, and youâll discover how to interview to get the job you want and work wherever you want!
Sign up here.
And here are this week's remote jobs for you to check out đ
Stay rebellious,
Michelle