A work meeting
The potential benefits of a shortened workweek have been debated in recent years, but lately, those considerations have gained growing traction among many American workers – especially women.
A new study shared by LiveCareer, found that 67% of workers believe longer 4-day workweeks would enhance their productivity compared to the standard 5-day workweeks. The 67% of workers who agreed, said they would be more productive working four 10-hour days compared to the typical 40-hour-a-week schedule.
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Among women, those numbers were even higher, while men were more likely to say they preferred the traditional five-day work schedule. The study found that 76% of women said they would prefer a four-day workweek, compared to only 57% of men.
Many men expressed fears that a four-day workweek might result in reduced collaboration, whereas women emphasized that fewer meetings and more remote options would be productivity boosters.
According to the study, these differences highlight the importance of workplace policies that prioritize balance and flexibility to meet varying needs across genders.
The perceived benefits of a four-day workweek are variable. The study found that 61% of respondents said a four-day workweek would allow them to have better work-life balance, 59% said it would encourage increased productivity and job satisfaction and 45% said it would lead to reduced burnout or stress. Additionally, 30% highlighted that a four-day workweek might lower costs and time spent commuting to and from work.
Most of the workers surveyed believe that advancements made in AI and automation could significantly improve the productivity of a four-day workweek. The study found that 78% of workers said that AI or automation could enable a four-day workweek.
Surprisingly, men were more optimistic (86%) about AI’s role in making a shortened workweek a reality, compared to women (71%).
“While longer workdays and increased workloads are significant concerns – particularly for men – the optimism surrounding automation and AI shows promise that a four-day workweek could become a reality for more workers,” said Jasmine Escalara, a career expert for LiveCareer. “These tools could enable employees to maintain productivity and achieve even more in a four-day workweek than in a traditional workweek.”
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