{"id":3000080368,"date":"2025-10-30T09:13:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T13:13:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/?p=3000080368"},"modified":"2026-02-13T08:30:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T13:30:54","slug":"is-a-4-day-work-week-right-for-your-business-a-simple-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/growth-innovation\/is-a-4-day-work-week-right-for-your-business-a-simple-test","title":{"rendered":"Is a 4-day work week right for your business?\u00a0A simple test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 4-day work week is nothing new. In fact, this idea has been around for decades. It started in the 1960s but took off after the pandemic, kicking off new research. When work shifted from the office to the kitchen table back in 2020, subjects like work-life balance, employee wellbeing<\/a>, and the way they impact productivity came to the forefront \u2014 so much so that five years and a hybrid work model later<\/a>, we\u2019re still talking about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a 2023 Johns Hopkins University study<\/a>, a lot of people care more about work-life balance in the post-pandemic world, making a 4-day work week sound very appealing. Similarly, a 2025 study hosted by ASA<\/a> found that working fewer days boosts well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But what about employers? A 2023 research project<\/a> about the impact of the 4-day work week found that out of the 61 participating companies, 92% said they would continue with this policy, while nearly a third confirmed permanent implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All things considered, the benefits of a 4-day work week make it a win-win situation: the employees are happier, which leads to better results for the employer. But that is not to say there are no disadvantages. A 4-day work week means increased work hours and, for some companies, operational challenges they can\u2019t afford. Depending on the industry, some businesses may not be able to try it at all. And if you can try it, how do you know if it\u2019s right for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This answer is: you test it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How? In six steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Establish your goals<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re considering trying out a 4-day work week schedule, you must first define your reason why. Some companies choose it to decrease employee burnout \u2014 studies show the 4-day work week can help with that<\/a>. Same with employee retention: a 4-day work week can help, as well as provide a competitive edge, especially for small businesses<\/a> looking to recruit and retain talent. Other reasons may include cost efficiency and higher productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Practical Tip:<\/strong> Use the power of numbers in your favor. Make a list of measurable goals, such as reducing turnover by 15% or improving engagement scores by 10%. That way, you\u2019ll know exactly what you\u2019re looking for, and easily find out whether you achieved it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Decide on a model<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Will you go for a reduced 32-hour model, or a compressed 40-hour model? The answer depends on your needs, which are the next to establish after your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Are there any departments that must stay fully staffed, such as customer support, operations, or sales? What would be the more flexible departments? Which ones must pair with what others? You will need answers to all these questions, as they are critical when deciding how to implement the 4-day work week schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        • Practical Tip:<\/strong> Make a list where you pair each team with their core hours, flexibility level, and dependencies. That way, you can compare and organize them accordingly within the new schedule. As an example, an HR team would likely have its core hours between 9 AM and 5 PM. Also, their flexibility would be limited because most other employees depend on them. By contrast, a marketing team would have fewer dependencies and high flexibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n