Lesser. Better.

The Advent of the Four-Day Workweek

The traditional five-day workweek has long been a cornerstone of modern labour practices. This societal norm has roots tracing back to the Industrial Revolution, solidified by the establishment of labour laws in the West during the early 20th century. However, as societal expectations, technology and work-life balance priorities evolve, so too has the structure of the workweek. The concept of a four-day workweek, once considered radical, is gaining traction across the globe, promising a revolution in how we approach work and productivity. In this article, we explore the evolution of the concept of the workweek, the trial of the four-day workweek around the world, its advantages and disadvantages, implementation considerations, and its potential future.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The idea of reducing the workweek is not new. The convention of setting the number of work hours/days per week can be broken down into three broad eras. The first wave emerged in pre-industrial societies, when people hunted, gathered and farmed. During this time, work was dictated by the natural rhythms of daylight and the demands of agrarian life. People would work in the fields from dawn till dusk, reflecting a more fluid and seasonal understanding of labour. This lifestyle did not incorporate any particular rest day; thus, it was essentially a seven-day workweek.