Millennials in the United States are ready for a four-day workweek, Newsweek reports, UNN writes.
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According to the publication, the coronavirus pandemic has upended office traditions around the world, making working from home the new normal, and Zoom meetings a favorite way to communicate with colleagues and clients.
"But millennials, often criticized by their elders for their work ethic, are seeking further work-life balance reforms, with new polls showing that this generation is largely in favor of a four-day work week," the publication writes.
A recent poll conducted by Redfield and Wilton Strategies exclusively for Newsweek found that millennials are the most supportive of shortening the work week. The April 6-7 survey of 4,000 U.S. voters found that 63 percent support a move to a four-day workweek, and 46 percent believe it increases employee productivity.
Millennials, as indicated, were ahead of all other age groups, with almost three-quarters (74 percent) of those surveyed wanting to reduce the working day. Of these, almost half (44 percent) said they strongly support shortening the workweek, with another 30 percent expressing general support for the idea. Only eight percent of millennials opposed the idea.
Their views are reportedly far removed from those of the oldest generations aged 59 and older, including baby boomers and the silent generation. Overall, 50 percent of those born in 1964 and earlier support a four-day week, with nearly a third saying they neither support nor oppose the idea, while less than a quarter (23 percent) of millennials said the same.
The concept of a four-day workweek is simple: employees work one day less than the standard five, which amounts to 32 working hours instead of 40. Employees still have to do the same amount of work 80 percent of the time, "although in many cases they still take home their full compensation package." Many large companies have introduced a shortened week, either weekly or for just a few weeks, including Kickstarter, Bolt, and Dolby, the publication writes.
In the United States, the newspaper notes, the idea is definitely gaining momentum. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, insists on a four-day week in Congress.
Several trials have been conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe to examine the potential benefits of more rest time and less work time.
Сьогоднішнє покоління повинно буде в старості довше працювати - Мінсоцполітики 22.04.24, 12:26
Many companies, as noted, shared their experiences and opinions on how to make the four-day week work. Most noted that the best outcome of the transition was a significant improvement in work-life balance, with almost all reporting less employee burnout and higher employee retention.
Given the advances in technology that have been part of the ongoing labor revolution throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, Lisa Countryman-Kiros, CEO of the nonprofit JVS, said the traditional 40-hour workweek is outdated.
"The five-day workweek was created in a different time. It has served its purpose, but today's world is more dynamic and technologically advanced than our predecessors ever imagined in the workplace," she told Newsweek.
"Since implementing the four-day work week, our results have been incredible. We have found that our employees are more productive, report a better work-life balance, and are less likely to burn out. Incredibly, our staff turnover has almost halved," she said.
But, like everything else, such changes are not immune to problems, the publication notes. "Depending on the industry, cramming the same amount of work into fewer hours can lead to burnout, so it's critical to maintain a shorter workweek with efficient workflows and optimized processes," Nishank Khanna, co-founder and CEO of Clarify Capital, told Newsweek.
In some sectors, such radical changes are difficult to implement. Henry Kriss, CEO of the Fraum Center for Restorative Health, said the need for consistency and flexibility in emergency situations makes a four-day week unlikely for healthcare workers.
Although the 4-day concept, as the publication notes, may not be as popular among the older generation, "young people belonging to millennials and Generation Z are likely to revolutionize the way we work, and businesses will be asked to adapt to the needs of employees.
Penny Zenker, a productivity expert and strategic business coach, says there are a growing number of young people entering the workforce who "tend to put lifestyle above traditional paychecks." She told Newsweek: "This generational shift underscores the importance for businesses to adapt to new workplace preferences and expectations, including flexibility, technology integration, value alignment, and a greater emphasis on lifestyle.
"The four-day work week attracts young talent motivated by a better work-life balance. In society, this shift to a shorter workweek can lead to reduced carbon emissions and improved social welfare, creating a ripple effect of benefits," said Zenker.
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