Scott Santens

Not one of the 33 companies participating in a big trial of a 4-day workweek (with no loss in pay) is returning to a standard 5-day schedule. Productivity went up. Revenue went up. Absenteeism and turnover both went down.

"The benefits are significant."
https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/want-a-four-day-work-week-show-the-results-of-research-to-your-boss-11669783677563.html

Want a four-day work week? Show the results of research to your boss | Mint

Organizations involved in 4-day work week study registered gains in revenue and employee productivity, as well as drops in absenteeism and turnover

mint
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:12pmWeb
Show threadsticky comics 🚴‍♀️🚶‍♀️✍️Nov 30, 2022
@scottsantens I worked somewhere that had a 4-day work week WITH a pay cut and no one was willing to give it up there either
Show threadautistic_enby Nov 30, 2022

@xiann @scottsantens I wish part-time remote jobs were common.
After a decade of work I'm finally at a stage where I make much more than I need, and I'd be more than willing to work 3 days a week for half the salary.
But software project management isn't structured to work this way.

ADHD+Autism makes it hard for me to work and rest on the same day, each day is either super productive or mostly rest or mostly random errands.

Show threadslovakgalNov 30, 2022
@scottsantens there are now also 100 more companies implementing it as the second phase of this trial. Truly every company where this is possible should be doing it!
Show threadHilary PalménDec 1, 2022

@scottsantens
Thankyou! Fascinating.
This is a link to download the actual research report:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60b956cbe7bf6f2efd86b04e/t/6386961d8671157ecf32992e/1669764648439/The+Four+Day+Week-+Assessing+Global+Trials+of+Reduced+Work+Time+with+No+Reduction+in+Pay+%E2%80%93+A+%E2%80%93+30112022.pdf

Note that for this study, the data isn't baselined for annual variations. The comparisons are the beginning and end of the trial period - June with November.

The 'Hawthorne effect' applied, people in companies who are trying to find ways to improve thier working conditions will produce and report improvements while being studied.

Show threadhiding from plagues ☣️♿Dec 1, 2022
@scottsantens make it less. Two day work week let's goooo
Show threadSusana, La ManchiqueraDec 1, 2022
@scottsantens Employers in the 19th century were also amazed to find that when workers aren’t exhausted .. they can be more motivated & more productive . A good work/life balance is essential , for mental health & often has positive implications for those balancing childcare .
Show threadthrillfallDec 1, 2022
@scottsantens the article says nothing about what happend to the "lost" 8 hours of that 5th day off. Do people work 10 hours for 4 days?
Show threadMark MasonDec 1, 2022
@thrillfall @scottsantens I think the point is that the increase in productivity makes for the loss in hours worked. I’m not sure how this plays out for machine operators. Maybe they employ more people to cover the shifts and it still works out better for the employer.
Show threadJackie SDec 1, 2022
@thrillfall @scottsantens Thats what most places do — adjust the daily schedule — so there’s no cut in hours/pay
I used to work at a law firm where 35 hours/week was the norm & we worked 4 9.25 hr days.
Show threadthrillfallDec 1, 2022

@KaysGramma @scottsantens from a software developer perspective I don't see how I deliver more when working longer per day knowing that after 4-6 hours of concentrated work there is just not enough focus left to deliver quality code. Having more presence time per day makes or even worse.

I suspect increase in outcome in less presence time (!= working time) originates from optimizing the individual workflow under the pressure of delivering the same work in less days.

Show threadRockettyRonDec 1, 2022
@scottsantens my wife offered a 4 day week to her employees a couple of years ago under the same conditions. They were suspicious thinking it might impact on bank holidays etc.
Only one took it up and has been a happy and productive worker.
Show threadNiels PflaegingDec 1, 2022

@scottsantens
The idea of a "4-day work week" is based on flawed thinking about both #people's needs and #valuecreation! Such rules are not a solution to any problem: They are merely activism based on clichés.
"Experiences" of all kinds notwithstanding.

Ask yourself: What is the kind of problem we are REALLY trying to solve?
#betacodex

Show threadHermunculusDec 1, 2022

@scottsantens just because something works or is good, people won't necessarily do it.

it's been proven for decades now that schools starting later lets students learn better but hardly anywhere does it

Show threadJackie SDec 1, 2022
@scottsantens I used to work a 4 day work week. Absolutely loved it!
We worked 9.25 hr shifts (35 hrs/week, so no cut in pay) I worked M-W-F evenings & Sat during the day. Best schedule I ever had. My biggest regret is leaving that job for one I thought would be better but turned out to be so much worse 🙁
Show threadPugthugDec 1, 2022
@scottsantens benefits to the company are obvious, there aren’t benefits to the workers however. They will suffer physically, emotionally and psychologically from having to work more, rest less and seeing their loved ones less. Their families will suffer from their lack of participation in family life. This is a win for corporations, not for employees.
Show threadSkyDec 2, 2022
@scottsantens Not once in that article did it say whether it was a 40-hour week or 32 or what. Do you happen to know which? I'm curious.
Show threadMoritz SchulzDec 4, 2022
@scottsantens Would love to comment on the insufficiency of the two-day weekend, but I really gotta get back to drafting that paper and grading essays... happy Sunday! #academia
Show threadFreyalyn 🌻🌨️ 🌲 🎄 🌲 🌨️Dec 4, 2022

@scottsantens I moved to a four day week a few years ago, for health and welbeing reasons. And it worked.

But I'm sure if my company now moves to a four day week, those of us already on 4 days won't see our salaries match everyone else's.

Show threadConcerned CitizenDec 9, 2022
@scottsantens Not surprising.