Definition: Four days work week

The four-day work week is a working time arrangement which consists of reducing the weekly working time to 28 hours, spread over four days instead of five.

This practice is growing more and more in companies, particularly in the context of the health crisis and the rise of teleworking.

Origins and definition of the four-day work week

The four-day work week is a working time arrangement which consists of distributing the hours worked over four days instead of five. This practice is part of a broader trend aimed at rethinking the relationship with work and promoting a better balance between professional and personal life.

The origin of the four-day work week dates back to the 1930s in the United States, where companies experimented with it in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the Great Depression.

Since then, this formula has been adopted by various companies around the world and has become a topic of debate in many countries. According to a 2020 study conducted by the human resources consulting agency Robert Half, 72% of French employees surveyed are in favor of the four-day week (Robert Half, 2020).

Benefits of the four-day work week for employees and businesses

The benefits of the four-day work week are multiple, both for employees and for businesses.

For employees, this translates into reduced fatigue, a better work-life balance, increased motivation and productivity.

A 2020 study conducted by the University of Perth, Australia, found that a four-day work week saved employees an average of 2.2 hours of free time per day, resulting in improved well-being. -be general (Perth University, 2020).

On the business side, the four-day work week can lead to reduced costs, increased productivity and improved employee retention.

A 2019 experiment conducted by Microsoft in Japan showed that the four-day work week led to a 40% increase in employee productivity (Microsoft, 2019).

Implementation of the four-day week and management tools

The transition to the four-day work week requires careful planning and management.

It is crucial to ensure a fair distribution of tasks among employees, maintain the quality of services and ensure that company objectives are achieved.

To facilitate this transition, it is possible to use management tools such as BeeMyFlex, a flexible workspace management platform. BeeMyFlex allows employees to view who is in the office and reserve workspaces, making it easier to organize schedules and contribute to more efficient management of the four-day work week.

Perspectives and challenges of the four-day week

Although the four-day work week has many advantages, it also raises several issues and questions.

Among these are the impact on employee remuneration, management of atypical hours, maintaining the quality of services and reconciliation with legal and regulatory obligations.

Despite these challenges, the four-day work week continues to grow in popularity and may become a standard in the near future.