New report reveals strong preference for shortened work week – especially among women
More than three in five employees in the United States want a four-day work week as they believe it would make them more productive at work, according to a new poll.
The survey, released by LiveCareer, polled 1,130 American employees to determine their preferences on a four-day work week, where they will work 10-hour days.
It found that 67% of employees want a four-day work week, with women (76%) more likely to support this shift than men (57%).
"The strong support for a four-day workweek, especially among women, highlights the prioritisation of work-life balance and flexibility — a consistent theme in research on the needs of female workers," said Jasmine Escalara, a career expert for LiveCareer, in a statement.
Benefits, risks of four-day work week
According to the poll, the strong preference for a four-day work week comes as 67% of the respondents also believe that they would be more productive under the arrangement.
They added that it has the potential to improve work-life balance (61%) and increase job satisfaction (59%).
Four-day work week arrangements have been gaining a lot of traction recently as more individuals prioritise work-life balance and flexibility.
But concerns surrounding the arrangement remain, even for employees.
Over three in five respondents (63%) said longer workdays can lead to fatigue, while 59% said a condensed schedule may lead to a bigger workload or expectations.
The report, however, noted 78% of respondents believe that AI or automation can help enable a four-day work week for their organisations.
"While longer workdays and increased workloads are significant concerns—particularly for men—the optimism surrounding automation and AI shows promise that a four-day workweek could become a reality for more workers," Escalera said.
"These tools could enable employees to maintain productivity and achieve even more in a four-day workweek than in a traditional workweek."
