How to Get a 4-Day Work Week
It’s time for a change.
Thanks to the rapid adoption of technology throughout society over the past decade, productivity has skyrocketed, and the traditional 5-day work week is now an outdated concept. Let’s talk about the transformative power of the 4-day work week and how you can become part of the movement to make it a reality.
Table of Contents
4-Day Work Weeks are Scientifically Proven
First, let’s explore why the 4-day work week is gaining momentum. In short, it’s because it has been shown to benefit everyone involved: not just the employee, but their employers, too!
Increased Productivity: Microsoft Japan’s Work-Life Choice Challenge in 2019 revealed that a 4-day work week led to a 40% boost in productivity1.
Enhanced Well-being: A 4-day work week improves well-being by reducing stress, promoting a healthier work-life balance, and allowing more personal time2.
Talent Attraction and Retention: Offering a shorter work week can be a valuable recruitment tool. Companies that embrace this approach tend to attract top talent and reduce turnover rates3, which means increased revenue and fewer expenses for the company.
Environmental Benefits: A shorter work week contributes to reduced energy consumption and commuting emissions, aligning with modern sustainability goals4.
Boosted Creativity and Innovation: With an extra day off, workers have time to explore personal interests and recharge. This leads to fresh ideas and solutions, which fosters innovation5.
How to Get a 4-Day Work Week
Companies aren’t going to offer 4-day work weeks unless there’s a demand for it. To become part of the 4-day work week movement and make it happen, here are some steps you can take:
Discuss with Coworkers: Start a conversation about the benefits of a 4-day work week with your coworkers. Share success stories and research findings to build support within your organization.
- Organize informal discussions during lunch breaks or coffee breaks to gauge interest and gather feedback on the idea.
- Collaborate with like-minded coworkers to create a presentation or proposal outlining the advantages of a 4-day work week.
Advocate for Change: If you believe your company could benefit from a 4-day work week, consider advocating for a pilot program or presenting a well-researched proposal to management.
- Research successful case studies and present them to your superiors, highlighting the positive impact on productivity and employee satisfaction.
- Propose a trial period to test the feasibility of a 4-day work week and its potential benefits for your team.
Social Media Advocacy: Whether on platforms like LinkedIn or TikTok, you can raise awareness about the advantages of a 4-day work week on social media. Use relevant hashtags and share articles and success stories to engage your network.
- Share articles and studies about the benefits of a 4-day work week.
- Encourage others to share their thoughts and experiences with alternative work arrangements to create a dialogue.
Tech Jobs Will Be First to Adopt 4-Day Work Weeks
The tech sector is at the bleeding edge of new technologies and innovations. It will be the first to test out and widely adopt a 4-day work week. There are many reasons to transition into a tech job:
High Demand for Tech Skills: The tech industry is booming, with an ever-increasing demand for skilled professionals. If you’re wondering how to break into tech, acquiring relevant skills can open up numerous opportunities, and you can learn almost any tech career online within a few months.
Competitive Salaries: Because of the high demand for tech workers, tech jobs offer competitive salaries and compensation packages. Tech jobs are financially rewarding careers that can free you from the monotony of an unrewarding job that doesn’t allow you to live a comfortable life.
Flexibility: Many tech companies are at the forefront of adopting innovative work arrangements like flexible hours, unlimited PTO, and remote or hybrid work options, providing employees with greater work-life balance and feeling like their company respects them.
Innovation and Creativity: Tech jobs encourage creativity and innovation, offering a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment. Getting to work on new projects instead of doing the same thing every day helps the work day go by faster because your work is more interested.
Conclusion
The adoption of the 4-day work week in the tech industry has the potential to revolutionize the way we work, boost productivity, enhance well-being, and even promote a more sustainable future.
Tech jobs are in high demand, they offer competitive salaries and opportunities for innovation, and tech companies will likely be the first to adopt a 4-day work week.
By transitioning to a tech job and then discussing 4-day work weeks with coworkers, advocating for change within your organization, and using social media to raise awareness, you can play a vital role in the movement, empowering everyone to enjoy something a little closer to real work-life balance.
Need help breaking into tech? Sign up for our newsletter below, or check out our online course offerings.
THE BREAK INTO TECH INSIDER NEWSLETTER