Does a 4-day work week reduce stress?
It Reduces Stress and Burnout
Research from Henley Business School found that 78% of employers who implemented a four-day week said their employees were less stressed at work, and 75% say their employees are happier.
Engagement, Wellbeing and Burnout by Number of Days Worked
Overall, employees who work four days a week have 56% thriving wellbeing. For fully on-site employees, those who work four days a week have 57% thriving wellbeing, versus only 49% when working five days a week.
Enhanced employee engagement and retention
Implementing a four-day workweek can significantly improve employee engagement and retention rates. Offering a reduced workweek shows that employers value their employees and recognize the importance of work-life balance.
1. It Reduces Stress and Burnout. The primary mental health benefit of a 4-day work week is the reduction in continuous work pressure. The UK's Four-Day Week Pilot, a 2022 trial program involving 61 companies and around 2,900 employees, assessed the benefits of a 4-day work week.
Starting each week on a high note will set students and teachers up to have a productive week and eliminate some of the anxiety and stress they are all experiencing. If families wanted to take a weekend trip to explore, or destress, they would be able to keep their child home on Monday without any repercussions.
The trials launched by 4 Day Week Global point to positive results gathered from the companies involved. However, adopting a four-day work week may not be feasible or efficient for some types of businesses. In some cases, it may even lead to increased levels of stress and burnout among employees.
In addition, some studies have shown that student attendance improves under a four-day school week. With a longer weekend, students have more time to rest and engage in extracurricular activities, which can lead to better attendance during the week. This, in turn, can lead to improved academic performance.
Let's look at the four day work week statistics:
A 2019 study at Henley Business School reports that companies that adopted a four-day week found that over three-quarters of staff (78%) were happier, less stressed (70%), and took fewer sick days (62%).
The recovery can take several months and you may be sensitive to stress for many years ahead. Another piece of advice: when you're strong enough to return to work, start small. Just being in a work environment will be a challenge for your brain.
How does a 4-day work week affect salary?
It makes sense to think that your salary would decrease if you switched to a 4-day work week because you're essentially working fewer hours for the same amount of money. But as I've already mentioned briefly, it's common for salaries to remain the same if companies switch to 4-day work weeks.
The Cons of a 4/10 Work Schedule
One of the main drawbacks of a 4/10 work schedule is the extended workday. Ten-hour workdays can be physically and mentally exhausting for some employees, potentially leading to burnout or decreased job satisfaction.
Working four days instead of five—with the same pay—leads to improved well-being among employees without damaging the company's productivity.
The general theory behind a shorter week is that happier, more fulfilled employees are therefore more focused on their job when actually in the workplace. Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand firm trialled a four day week. The results found that 78% of employees could more effectively balance their work and home life.
Rand.org found a 4-day week had other positive effects on: Reduced parental stress. Improved student mental health. Improved school climate.
With a 4/10 work schedule, employees have three days off to look forward to each week. Because of this, employees may inevitably have more free time to unwind and reduce stress. This could also lead to increased productivity, as you may come to truly value the time you have during work.
One study found that the four-day week may hurt reading scores more than math scores. A large study released last year found that the shorter schedule held back student achievement in small-town and suburban districts but had little or no effect in rural districts.
The research is mixed on the impact of four-day weeks on student achievement, but most studies find small to medium negative impacts on achievement on average. These negative effects are roughly equivalent to a student being two to seven weeks behind where they would have been if they had stayed on a five-day week.
Nearly 900 school districts in the United States currently use a four-day weekly academic schedule. That number rose from 650 districts in 2020 to 876 districts, across 26 states, in 2023.
In 1956, then US Vice President Richard Nixon promised Americans they would only have to work four days “in the not too distant future”.
What are three 3 signs of stress?
Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody. Feeling overwhelmed, as if you are losing control or need to take control. Having a hard time relaxing and quieting your mind. Feeling bad about yourself (low self-esteem), and feeling lonely, worthless, and depressed.
Once the acute stress episode has passed, the body returns to its normal state. Chronic stress, or a constant stress experienced over a prolonged period of time, can contribute to long-term problems for heart and blood vessels.
When the stress trigger is no longer present, your body should return to its baseline levels within 20 to 60 minutes. However, if you are chronically stressed, your body may constantly pump out higher-than-average amounts of cortisol, which can adversely affect your well-being.
Severe stress can cause symptoms that include fatigue and insomnia. You can also experience physical effects like headaches and acne.
Bad stress, however, is the kind that wears you out, leaves you jittery and is harmful to your health. Bad stress, or distress, can lead to anxiety, confusion, poor concentration and decreased performance. Bad stress can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic).
