4-day week: for or against?

4-day week

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Against the backdrop of the Great Resignation in France, executives and managers have become more attuned to their employees' needs. The development of hybrid work has also become a trigger for questioning organizational systems within companies. This implies a review of the use of workstations. Since the health crisis, companies have been determined to embrace change. Management methods have evolved, and employees have taken their place. Companies are now looking for new ways to meet the needs of their talent, and the 4-day week is one of them.

"More generally, we are seeing a very strong demand from employees for management models based on trust, autonomy and responsibility, which undeniably helps attract and above all retain the best talent. This is a major challenge for companies in the current climate. According to Carlos Fontelas De Carvalho, President of ADP France and Switzerland.

 

What is the 4-day week? What is the source of the trend? 

The phenomenon of the 4-day week began in 1996, thanks to the Robien law. With a switch to a 32-hour week and an obligation for companies to recruit at least 10% of employees on permanent contracts. However, this law was superseded by the Aubry law, which introduced a 35-hour working week. Nevertheless, this trend is back in vogue, with employees moving from 35 to 32 hours a week after signing a collective agreement. To each his own: increase the number of hours worked in 4 days to 35 hours, or switch to 32 hours. In short, working hours need to be adjusted in the interests of a more flexible policy.

This seems to benefit everyone... Mums, dads and people with a dependent parent. This law does not impose a fixed "off" day. You can choose to take Monday off, Wednesday off for the kids, or Friday off for the weekend. It's a system in which there's something for everyone. Alongside telecommuting, with alternating face-to-face and remote working, the pace of work is adapted to the employee's life. 54 % of HR managers say they are ready to switch to a 4-day week, according to Work Rhythms Observatory. The only potential holdouts are managers. In exchange, companies benefit from a reduction in employer social security contributions.

 

Advantages of the of 4 days

 

For employees, enhanced well-being 

Employees seem to be happy with this new corporate organization. Firstly, they see it as an opportunity to strike a real balance between their professional and personal lives. In addition to telecommuting, these new ways of working are also conducive to personal fulfillment. Indeed, 3 weekend days for 4 working days seems fairer than before. This approach also enables employees to take up new activities alongside their work. According to an ADP People at Work 2022 study (external link 1)64% of French employees are ready to take the plunge. It's time to take up pottery, play a musical instrument at home or join a gym. In any case, this extra day of rest contributes to their overall well-being. They can adjust their schedules to suit their own pace of life.

 

Boosted productivity to the benefit of companies 

Reducing their working hours over time, from 5 to 4 days, enables employees to be more involved in their tasks and more focused on their day-to-day work. Their working time is optimized. Yes, it's a taboo in the workplace, but every employee has moments when they lose concentration or get distracted. Days are long, so personal life sometimes encroaches on work time. The unexpected has to be dealt with, doctors' appointments have to be made, the boiler breaks down. Everyday life doesn't allow employees to be reactive 5 days a week, all year round. 

 

Significant reduction in absenteeism and sick leave 

In France, presenteeism and the culture of long working hours are deeply rooted. The new generations Y and Z are changing this. Companies are changing their mentality to match that of their employees. However, the rules still apply, especially in large companies or when the manager doesn't like change. According to a survey conducted by Glassdoor in 201926% of those surveyed admit to having stayed in the office just to look good, without being productive. 30% say it's frowned upon to leave the office before 6 p.m. and 28% feel embarrassed to be the last to arrive at the office in the morning. A change of organizational model could considerably reduce absenteeism and the feeling of always having to do more.

 

Less time in the office means more energy savings

The ecological notion seems to be a plus in this new organization. It's true that spending one day less in the office reduces the company's energy consumption. This means lower costs for the company, a point not to be overlooked when making this decision. It's a plus in this age of ecological awareness, when the standards to be met by companies are all the more stringent. With the rising cost of energy, for example, these are real financial savings for companies. What's more, employees don't have to travel as far to work, which limits CO2 emissions from daily commutes. The British association Platform published a study in August 2022, a study indicating that switching to a 4-day week with no loss of pay would reduce the UK's carbon footprint by 21. 3%.

Find out more about one of our very interesting cases in terms of space management and energy efficiency.

 

A real asset for your employer brand

Offering employees a 4-day week is more attractive than a 5-day week. By choosing this option, you'll have a better chance of attracting new talent to your company. Younger employees in particular, just out of school, are more likely to be flexible. At a time when companies are listening to their employees, it is necessary to propose solutions. In order to retain talent within your company, it's in your best interest to opt for this option. According to a study by Robert Half35% of French employers plan to experiment with this option in the coming year. At the same time, the 4-day week would mean new recruitment to ensure the smooth running of the company's business.

 

Disadvantages of the 4-day week

 

Giving people the chance to work less for less pay

It all depends on the format of the 4-day week you choose for your employees. If you decide to cut back to 32 hours, their salary will automatically be reduced. Nevertheless, 75% of French employees would accept a pay cut to work 4 days a week, according to Owl Labs' Annual Report on Hybrid Working. The risk is that your talent will flee, and you'll face a brain drain to your competitors. Alternatively, to keep things logical, you can keep the same weekly working hours spread over 4 days.

Create a potential work overload 

Condensing the working week into 4 days could lead to an additional mental burden: "You have to finish everything on time". During the transition period, employees could quickly find themselves underwater, with added stress. This could lead to under-performance. It is therefore essential to monitor your employees and support them throughout this change, which is not as insignificant as it may seem. Examples seem to show the contrary, with the Japanese government encouraging the 4-day week. Microsoft has been experimenting with this since 2019, and productivity is said to have increased by 40% on the previous year. 92% of Microsoft Japan employees said they were satisfied.

 

A sometimes complex internal reorganization

Changing work models, like hybrid or flex office working, is complex. It may mean eliminating dedicated offices, and creating open-spaces. It also requires time to adapt to the new organization, and above all a collective effort. As the organizational structure of the company changes, it is sometimes necessary to take the time to listen to the feedback and ressenof employees and managers. It's true that certain types of profiles need an "incompressible" amount of time to work through their ideas. This requires time, patience and support. In fact, according to a McKinsey and Prosci study, only 30% to 50% of change projects succeed. It is therefore essential to bring them to a successful conclusion, so that employees accept them and see real added value.

 

Longer working hours can be discouraging

The main problem with increasing working hours is that it can lead to a drop in motivation. This is one of the potential pitfalls. You need to prioritize your tasks and take into account the length of weekends. We can therefore observe a drop in productivity to complete all tasks at first. However, in the long term, productivity will increase with the perception of a longer weekend than before. In fact, according to the EY study "Work Reimagined", 2021 edition, 64% of French employees would like to benefit from greater flexibility in the organization of their working hours, with the possibility of condensing them over four days.

 

Countries that have switched to a 4-day working week

France seems to be resistant to this type of corporate change. It chooses to do so when other countries have already adopted the trend, such as flex office or hybrid working. Belgium has opted for a 4-day working week, with no reduction in working hours. Iceland has implemented the 4-day week since 2015, dropping to 35h of weekly work instead of 40h. Furthermore, in Spain, the 4-day week has passed the 32h test (instead of 40h). The UK is also carrying out a large-scale test.

What's important to remember is that 34% of employees see the 4-day week as the ideal weekly working rhythm, according to a survey of 3,000 employees in eight different countries carried out by the Workforce Institute. So, if you'd like to adapt your space offer and optimize its use in view of your organizational change, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll be delighted to provide you with the best advice and best practices.

 

Success stories with 4 working days a week

Several French companies have already adopted the 4-day week:

  • Elmy From September 1, 2022, employees will work 32 hours a week over 4 days, paid at 39 hours a week.
  • IT Partner : employees went from 35 to 32 hours a week after signing a collective agreement.
  • Yprema: employees have been working 35 hours over 4 days since 1996, at the time of the Robiens law.
  • Welcome to the Jungle: In 2019, the company conducted a five-month test (June to October). This working rhythm has now been definitively adopted.

Discover the benefits of the 4-day week in your company by testing it alongside hybridization!