4-day work week — dream or no?
Pay is just one factor when considering ideal workplace
A four-day work week sounds like a dream come true, doesn’t it? For a growing number of Americans, it’s becoming a reality.
USA Today reports, “A small but growing number of U.S. businesses are adopting a four-day workweek to boost productivity and morale, and provide a competitive edge in the scramble for employees. While some scrunch the standard 40 hours into four days, others simply shed a day and require four eight-hour days, typically with no cut in pay.”
Now, a 10-hour work day might sound like a long day, but if the trade off was permanent three-day weekends, it sounds like a great deal. An even better option is the four eight-hour days, with no cut in pay.
USA Today notes that part of the shift stems from an effort to reduce employee burnout, with a number of companies offering “more liberal telecommuting options and flexible hours.”
Today, people are more aware of striving for an ideal work-life balance. And in finding that balance, one has to determine priorities. Is pay the top goal? Is it flexibility, such as being able to leave for a child’s school function or to work from home while waiting for a repair person at the house? Or is it the number of days worked per week?
Employers are expanding these options in some industries, which is great news for employees.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for every industry. A retail storefront still needs staff to serve customers – and that doesn’t offer the flexibility for the cashier to step out to a quick school awards ceremony.
But there is room in a variety of other industries for four-day work weeks, telecommuting or flexible hours. And for some people, those incentives may be just as valuable as the salary itself.
What do you think, readers? Would a four-day work week be an incentive for you, or are there other work incentives you would rather have in your ideal workplace? Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www.YumaSun.com, or send in a Letter to the Editor at letters@yumasun.com.