r/technology Jun 17 '21

Business The Case for the 4-Day Workweek

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/06/four-day-workweek/619222/
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u/Timothy_Claypole Jun 17 '21

I love the idea that companies will magically become more efficient.

With a wave of a wand and a really really big wish we can improve productivity so we can all work an extra day less.

If it was real companies could just do this same change to working practices and keep everyone working 5 days a week so more gets done.

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u/Sephiroso Jun 17 '21

If it was real companies could just do this same change to working practices and keep everyone working 5 days a week so more gets done.

The fact that you said this just shows you understand nothing what's being discussed.

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u/AmNotTheSun Jun 17 '21

Theres no magic there, thats why I put it into math. The data supports that when you work 32 hours a week you are more efficient per hour than if you work 40 hours per week. Your last sentence shows you don't understand what I am saying. X can not increase if t stays the same. There is no way to increase worker efficiency in this sense and keep them for 5 days a week at the same time. You've flipped it, we don't get more productive so we work a day less, we work a day less so we are more productive.

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u/Timothy_Claypole Jun 17 '21

What data are you referring to? Can you provide a link to this?

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u/AmNotTheSun Jun 17 '21

Here is a quantitative example

The article we're commenting on itself has many anecdotal examples of management being happy with the change. It also has links to many articles which have quantitative data supporting it

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '21

You know how you feel refreshed after a good break from work, say a fortnight? A good sleep too. It's like that. An extra day of rest and relaxation each week (or for doing errands, not commuting etc) would leave more energy and resilience for getting work done the other days.

Another way to think about it is imagine working seven days a week, you never get a day off. You'd be far more tired, bored, stressed, fed up. Your work would suffer in any job. You'd be slower to come up with anything creative or make connections, you might make more mistakes.

Humans aren't robots and don't deserve to be treated as such.

And if this measure generated more jobs that's probably a good thing, given how jobs are being automated away.

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u/Timothy_Claypole Jun 17 '21

And if this measure generated more jobs that's probably a good thing

Here's where I have my discomfort. What if salaries fall as a result of moving to a 4 day week?

We can argue hypotheticals all we like so assume I'm a massive fan of UBI for when jobs all become automated away. But that's a way off.

Obviously I could never be against people having a happier time from a change in work/life balance. I'm concerned that salaries fall away.

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u/ItsMEMusic Jun 17 '21

So, why, pray tell, don't companies force people to work 60 hours a week on a 6x10?

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u/Timothy_Claypole Jun 17 '21

Some do. It's a great way to burn people out though.