The Four-Day Work Week: A Happiness Script or a Hidden Trap?

An increase in hybrid and remote working, coupled with a surging desire for a better work-life balance, has led many businesses and employees to question the typical working week. The idea of a four-day working week is growing in popularity.

From the successful data reports of UK pilot studies to the surprising productivity gains in Iceland’s public sector trial, companies across the world are joining four-day work week trials. As we look beyond this dreamy bubble and scrutinize Taiwan’s deeply entrenched overtime culture, we are forced to ask: Is this truly a sweet dream for the working professional, or a carefully designed “Internal Responsibility System Upgrade” by employers seeking greater efficiency?

The Reality of “Four-Day Workweek”

Over 100,000 workers in the UK have switched to a full-time four-day week since the pandemic. The world’s largest four-day working week trial in the UK certainly paints a beautiful picture: 90% of participating companies decided to continue the scheme. Furthermore, employee efficiency increased, staff motivation improved, and the turnover rate reduced.

However, we must be mindful of survivorship bias. These frontrunners are predominantly in highly flexible industries such as technology and marketing. Their work is like LEGO blocks: easily disassembled and reconfigured. They were able to squeeze out that “missing day” through strategic process changes.

The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

Conversely, implementing a four-day week could negatively impact productivity if it merely compresses the five-day workload into four. This increased pressure risks raising workplace stress and potentially causing a drop in quality. Conversely, compressing the hours of a five-day week into four may ultimately reduce job satisfaction, which is critical for sustained productivity.

Are corporations simply sugar-coating this idea of a four-day work week as an alternative method to cut costs? Some companies, operating under the idea of “reduced working hours,” have already responded by slashing salaries by as much as 20% and even cancelling bonuses. For industries already struggling with low wages—such as the retail and dining sectors that suffered during the pandemic, or traditional manufacturing industries with thin profit margins—this type of “four-day work week” would undoubtedly worsen the situation. For the vast majority of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), implementing this scheme while maintaining 100% pay is a difficult hurdle to overcome.

A smarter future of work

Turnover, burnout, and sick leave are costly for employers worldwide. A well-executed four-day schedule can significantly cut those costs while maintaining performance—but this requires a collaborative effort between businesses and employees.

The Awakening of the Enterprise

• Process Reengineering is Key: Thoroughly review work processes to identify and eliminate redundant steps, ensuring work is completed within a shorter timeframe.
• Efficiency Tools are the Sharp Edge: Introduce digital tools and automation technologies to free employees from repetitive labor.
• Results-Oriented is the Golden Rule: Measure value based on work outcomes, reducing excessive focus on hours worked.

 

The Evolution of the Employee

• Time Management is Essential: Enhance personal time management and efficiency skills to ensure tasks are completed effectively within the four days.
• Courageous Communication: Proactively communicate with supervisors about workload and scheduling to prevent unnecessary overtime.
• Diversified Development is the Backup: Establish multiple sources of income to reduce reliance on a single job’s salary, increasing the confidence to face change.

 

The Final Question

The four-day work week is a hot trend, embodying our collective desire for work-life balance. No matter what happens with its adoption, there’s no denying that the way we work is fundamentally evolving. If the standard five-day workload is simply crammed into four days, the four-day work week will ultimately turn from a dream paradise into a hell of overwork for employees.

In Taiwan’s challenging workplace, will the four-day work week become a blessing that liberates the workforce, or an unexploded bomb of a new overwork crisis? The answer rests in the hands of business owners, policymakers, and every working individual.

Are you ready to embrace a future where you work four days a week?

 

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Published by iNSearch 卓恩管理顧問有限公司
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