The 9-to-5 grind is a phrase that resonates with countless individuals who feel trapped in the monotony of the traditional workweek.
It’s a never-ending cycle, leaving many questioning its sustainability and impact on mental well-being. But what if there was a way to break free from this cycle? Enter the concept of the four-day workweek, a bold shift that promises increased job satisfaction, reduced burnout, and even economic growth. As discussions around work-life balance gain momentum, countries worldwide are exploring alternatives to the standard 40-hour workweek, with some already implementing innovative solutions.
In the United States, Senator Bernie Sanders recently introduced a bill advocating for a 32-hour workweek to provide workers an additional day of rest without sacrificing pay or benefits. This proposal challenges the longstanding notion that longer hours equate to greater productivity, instead prioritizing the well-being of employees.
Sanders expressed that more than 28.5 million Americans work more than 60 hours a week, and the 40-hour workweek introduced 80 years ago is the same standard the people are using today, despite the explosion of technology, which is supposed to help with efficiency.
Sanders points to successful implementations of shorter workweeks in other countries as evidence of its potential benefits. Belgium, for instance, became the first European nation to legislate for a four-day workweek, with positive outcomes reported by both employees and employers. Similarly, Iceland, with its pioneering trial of reduced working hours, saw widespread adoption of the four-day workweek, demonstrating its feasibility on a national scale.
Lithuania and France have also made strides towards shorter workweeks, albeit through different approaches. While Lithuania offers parents with young children the option to work 32 hours a week, France, with its legally mandated 35-hour workweek, has seen many businesses embracing the four-day workweek voluntarily.
Beyond Europe, the United Arab Emirates has introduced a four-day workweek for government employees, signaling a shift towards greater flexibility and work-life balance in the region.
Sanders’ idea won’t go far in the Senate because of strong resistance from Republicans and maybe some Democrats, even though most Americans want this to happen.
Republican senator from Louisiana Bill Cassidy claimed that if workers were paid the same for working fewer hours, firms would be forced to pass on the expense of hiring more staff to customers.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act into law in 1938, restricting child labor and enforcing other workplace rights, such as a 48-hour workweek. Two years later, the law was changed to mandate 40 hours per week.
The historic rule resulted from a century-long labor union campaign to provide protections for the nation’s numerous overworked citizens.
