Majority of employees say companies need to reconsider 40-hour workweek

Amid growing debates on remote work and evolving workplace dynamics, a new report indicates that 70% of workers want companies to reconsider the traditional 40-hour workweek. According to the “2024 Workforce Wellness Report” from FlexJobs, which includes responses from a survey of more than 3,000 workers — the majority of them females — 28% of respondents said they experience a daily pressure to overwork beyond their regular hours, with another 30% indicating they feel pressured to overwork at least once a week (12%) or a few times a month (18%).

FlexJobs, a career service specializing in remote, hybrid, and flexible jobs, conducted the survey to gain greater insight into workers’ experiences and explore how today’s work landscape is impacting their health and wellness, career choices, and perspectives on the future of work.

“The findings in FlexJobs’ survey highlight the prevalence of unhealthy ‘hustle culture’ and the pressure to overwork,” Toni Frana, lead career expert at FlexJobs, said in a statement. “It’s critical that employers focus on developing organizations that prioritize work-life balance over burnout in order to foster healthier, more productive, and engaged teams heading into 2025.”

Here are some of the report’s highlights:

• Shorter workweeks and flexible schedules

FlexJobs’ survey found only 11% of respondents preferred to keep the standard, five-day workweek in place, compared to the 89% in favor of more flexible working arrangements such as compressed schedules and four-day workweeks. Other options they favor include a flexible schedule with the ability to choose working hours and a performance-based arrangement in which hours are based on goals.

• Overworking and toxic bosses

In addition to the more than half (58%) of respondents who indicated they feel pressured to work beyond regular hours, 80% said they have endured a toxic work environment because they were afraid of losing their job. Workers cited “excessive workloads” (34%), “toxic bosses” (31%), and “unrealistic expectations from managers” (31%) as the three biggest stressors they are currently experiencing at work.

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Whether a result of these challenges or tolerating a toxic work environment for job safety, more than one-third of respondents said they felt “stuck” (37%), “frustrated” (37%), “stressed” (34%), or “burned out” (34%) in their current job — a notably higher rate than those who stated they felt “engaged” (11%), “enthusiastic” (8%), or “excited” (7%)

• Difficulty sleeping and unhealthy eating

As a result of workplace stress, nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) said they have experienced difficulty sleeping or changes in sleep patterns, more than half (54%) have turned to comfort eating or unhealthy snacking, and 48% have demonstrated irritability or a shortened temper.

• Remote work and mental health

The shifting priorities of work-life balance in the workforce also are reflected in respondents’ views on flexible jobs — namely remote and hybrid workplaces. More than half of respondents (62%) said they plan to take or have already taken all of their paid vacation time in 2024. Conversely, only 34% have not. In addition to paid time off, nearly all respondents agreed that remote and hybrid workplaces are the best working arrangements for their mental health. Only 1% of all respondents said being in an office full time and not working remotely at all was best for their mental health.