Coronavirus and the four day week

Those avid followers of this blog (really, there's no one?) will remember the discussion around the idea of a four day working week within my Future Technology in Management post. The notion that technological advances could see an organisational push for less working hours has seen a shift due to global affairs- this time with Coronavirus fuelling this idea of a four day working week.

A recent article has boosted these claims by explaining that businesses could introduce a 10-4 approach (10 days off, 4 days on) to slowly reintroduce employees back into the workplace.

Although this idea has merit, this does also negate the positive attributes related to a shortened working week. The argument could be had that families will struggle to pay bills on these reduced working hours, risk of further virus spread and a decrease in productivity
due to such a lengthy break in between working periods.

A Cultural Shift

With such a modern day historical event taking place, what follows is a bit of a mystery. However, implementing a four day week could spell a new era for the working industry- one where business owners place higher value on their employees mental well-being for a return on productivity.

This period could be the catalyst for world change, as a TED talk by Andrew Barnes highlights the positives of a four day week and how it changed his business. He mentions that negotiations on time off would be based on productivity and performance output, which could also positively contribute to levelling out the gender pay gap. 

An employer that values the health of employees post-virus is surely paving the way towards employees that value the working environment and would foster a better relationship with the employer. Research and widespread support for the four day week based on productivity and global climate change might just change the way businesses approach the working week.

So what next?

It's all so simple to say that there are clear lessons that the world has learnt from the virus and that it would be a rushed decision to try and reintroduce normality to life too soon. However, many businesses and industries have started to feel the economic strain that accompanies a lack of footfall in their stores.

A four day week could just be the answer, but it needs to be introduced at the right time. An article released this week discusses life post-lockdown in New Zealand, as they see their restrictions lifted after strict measures. Jacinda Ardern (the countries Prime Minister) highlighted that the country heavily relies on tourism to prop up the economy. As work is often a barrier for many short-term breaks, she supports the notion that a four day week might just help workers be more flexible in their holiday approaches, thus reigniting a deteriorating economic climate.

Could this be the wake up call the world needs? Now might just be the perfect time to bring the outdated working week into the 21st century. If it works for Andrew Barnes and his business, surely it'll work for the rest of the world!

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