COVID-19 changed the way Americans work, and how they view work. As rates begin to uptick, so do worker desires around workplace rules and regulations.
A recent Bankrate survey finds that over 80% of workers and job seekers want a four-day workweek – and they are willing to work longer hours, take shorter vacations, and change jobs to get it.
Ultimately, workers say they want flexibility – which became a necessary measure when remote work and hybrid schedules came into play during the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Experts say these changes improved worker morale and productivity.
While a shortened work week may not be conducive to blue-collar jobs or non-office environments, several white-collar jobs and tech companies have begun trials to see how the schedule would impact their daily operations. One company, Healthwise, reported seeing spikes in productivity and revenue as a result.
Experts say that even if hiring workers to cover the hours left in the week is costly, the payoff in improved employee health and fewer unemployment claims could be worth it.