A Four Day Work Week – Really?

A four day work week is suddenly a hot topic – really?

Covid-19 happened and it wasn’t fun for anyone.

People who were able to keep a job and were able to work remotely did exactly that. Others who were on the front lines and are critical workers performed miracles throughout. In fact, many still do, every single day.

Meanwhile there’s a wake up call especially in larger companies and especially in tech. This week Mark Zuckerberg actually sounded like a really seasoned CEO who wants a leaner and more efficient workforce physically in the office. Is he impersonating Jamie Dimon?

Many parents, especially of younger children and those who are single parents, have been able to work productively in a remote setting while able to juggle their children’s schedules with less stress.

Now they have to figure out how to go back to the stressful work week? Does anyone miss the time spent commuting each way? This article is not about taking a position on working remote or not.

Why does the four day work week sound like a strange new concept?

What I’d like to do for a moment is to roll back the clocks in the time before Covid-19. Were important meetings ever scheduled for a Friday afternoon?

In the Northeast, from May through August, which tend to be the nicest weather, was anyone in the office on a Friday afternoon?

Sure maybe some people remained in the office, however, anyone who was able to set up a late lunch appointment and never returned to the office. It was also a great day to set up a golf meeting with a client or a vendor.

Make a day of it, why not you’re working, right?

It was unsaid behavior and it was accepted as long as the work that had to be accomplished was in fact completed. Most of the time, for most of the people the work was completed properly and on time.

Now it seems as if Executives and Managers want to have everyone punch a time card in and out of the physical office. The problem is everyone has had two plus years of that summer time Friday feeling.

So let’s look at before Covid and say a typical Friday four to six hours of real work was accomplished. Some people would say to me, “are you kidding, I would hope that would get done on any day!”

Okay so from the company side, would you be willing to give everyone the day of Friday off?

No change in pay, however, everyone agrees to work at least one more hour from Monday through Thursday? Even at least one and a half hours more each day?

Would the Company side agree to consider it?

My bet is the majority of the workforce in a position where they are tracked and their time at work is monitored would agree to this arrangement.

Bring it up and discuss it.

It’s time to allow everyone who works to have a life outside of work too.

These workers will be more productive and more dedicated to the companies that recognize them as people not just workers.

And – people, workers recognize that the Company you work for is in business to make a profit. Leave your politics and social causes to your free time. Help the Company succeed and you will find yourself in a satisfying and rewarding career.

Afterall, maybe you’ll have Fridays off to volunteer to the causes you care about.

Wenkroy International LLC is a boutique consulting company with a main purpose of helping entrepreneurs and business people create the strategy, the plan and the steps necessary to achieve that person’s vision for their business and often their life, while navigating the obstacles which may be blocking them from reaching their goals. The process may involve one on one coaching, advising, laser focus days, personal growth workshops and more. The process is utilized for individuals, teams, divisions and across entire companies. People are now able to focus on what matters most to them, because, they have clarity on where they are heading.

You may be interested to know:
Do you know I’m interviewing stroke survivors, their spouse or partner as well? The purpose is to compile these stories in order to share the information with others. The stories will inspire others, help them with tips for handling what they are going through now and what they may face in the future. It may even become a go to resource for stroke survivors and their families. Here’s the link if that’s you or pass on to someone you know.
https://mitchtublin.com/survivors

As always share the information in this article with people you know.