After the UK just began a trial run of a 4-day work week, we can’t help but hope that if all goes well, this could be implemented in NYC at a future date.
The 4 Day Week Campaign is an initiative striving to “[build] a world where we work to live, rather than live to work,” in partnership with the think tank Autonomy, & researchers at Cambridge University, Boston College and Oxford University.
The 6-month trial ran from June 2022 to December 2022 and was similar to ones performed in Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and even the United States, where the work week was reduced to 32 hours with no loss in pay.
The pilot involved workshops, mentoring, networking, & wellbeing and productivity assessments. The trial period required interested organizations in the UK to apply in the spring of March 2022 in order to participate.
According to the campaign, implementing a 4-day work week would result in benefits for employers, workers, society, the economy, and the environment. By reducing the work week’s total hours, employees would have an improved work-life balance, better rest & leisure time, & more opportunities to tackle “life admin” tasks such as cleaning, parenting, etc.
A 2019 study at the Henley Business School confirmed that a 4-day work week saved 250 participating firms nearly £92 billion a year (~$104 billion) due to employees being happier, less stressed, and healthier. “Put simply, a rested worker is a better worker.”
Moreover, the campaign has found research proving lower unemployment, increased productivity, better mental & physical health, a stride in gender equality, and a reduced carbon footprint as a result of one less day on the job.
And though a 4-day work week isn’t unheard of in America—according to the NY Times, 5% of US workers operate on a 4-day week schedule—the change has never been embraced nationwide.
The closest NYC is to achieving such change can be seen in earlier statements by Governor Kathy Hochul alluding to the idea of doing away with a 5-day work week in a post-pandemic world.
And after most New Yorkers adjust back into office life, a study by Partnership for New York City found that around 80% of New Yorkers expect their work to continue using a hybrid model from now on.
Until more research is found, we’ll have to keep hustling like we do best, but at least the conversation is being had!