Other places have tried a reduced work week without a cut in pay. Kickstarter began an experiment in 2022 in which employees work 32 hours for the same pay as they had before. At Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand estate planning company, workers have a 30-hour work week without reduced pay.And Buffer, a U.S. tech company, started offering a 32-hour work week as an experiment in 2020 and now says 73% of its workforce is able to make that option work.
The Origin of 40-Hour Work Weeks
The notion of eight hours of work, eight hours of leisure, and eight hours of rest each day came from Welsh industrialist and labor rights activist Robert Owen. Later, in order to fight exploitative working hours, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the Fair Labor Standards Act, which made 40 hours a week the American standard by 1940. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons for both employees and employers of reducing the standard work week to 30 hours per week.
Pros and Cons for Employees
Pros
For employees, having a set 30-hour or 32-hour work week may seem like a dream come true—especially if you receive the same pay you made at 40 hours a week. Although you’d have to be very efficient to get all of your work done in fewer hours, having eight hours more every week to yourself could be liberating. Depending on how the plan were implemented you might be able to choose to work five days each week, but each day would start or end at a more convenient time. Or you could have a three-day weekend every weekend. Commuters might be able to adjust their schedules so that they could avoid rush hour. Overall, the effect would typically be better physical and mental health, and a better work-life balance.
Cons
On the downside, having to compress all of your work into fewer hours could increase your on-the-job stress. Some might find that they’re still working more hours to get everything done. And if the reduced hours came with a smaller paycheck, many people would not be able to participate. Others might choose to work she shortened schedule anyway but feel a lower quality of life because of financial strain.
Pros and Cons for Employees
Pros
Having happier workers provides all kinds of benefits for employers. A shortened workweek could be a strong competitive advantage in a tight labor market. One study found that 63% of business said it was easier to hire and keep good talent with a four-day workweek. It also may be easier to keep workers engaged when they are on the job. Perpetual Guardian found that measures of leadership, commitment, stimulation and empowerment all were boosted significantly after a two-year period with a 30-hour week. Other companies have reported employees are more productive and efficient with a shortened workweek. A four-day workweek might reduce the overhead costs of running an office. And the risk of injury, which has been shown to increase when people work more than 12 hours per day, could be lowered.
Cons
But for many employers, employees just won’t be able to get the same amount of work done in significantly fewer hours. Productivity, quality, or both could suffer. The situation also could leave certain times uncovered by employees during regular business hours, requiring the hiring of more people.
The End of the Standard 40-Hour Week?
Although most employers don’t yet offer anything like a 30-hour workweek, many have begun offering more flexible work schedules and work-from-home options. Whether working in an office or remotely, employers can establish a set amount of hours that are acceptable and prove to be most productive. Employees can choose careers that offer them the freedom to work when and where they feel they are at their peak of productivity. Working fewer hours also can help reduce burnout, but it could put added stress and pressure on people who don’t manage their time well.
