PROPOSITION FOR A 4 DAY WORK WEEK

(AFIRMATIVE SIDE)

So, first why are we in favor to the proposition of the 4-day work week? So, first let me
give you some idea about what is a 4-day work week. So, a 4-day work week is a schedule where
employees work 4 days per week instead of the more traditional 5 days. A four-day work week
isn’t a compressed work schedule, but rather reduced hours. So, the employee would work
around 28 hours over four days and have a three-day weekend. Some employees can choose
whether it will either be from Monday to Thursday or Tuesday to Friday working days. When
the companies implement this the employees will be getting paid the same, earning the same
benefits but with the same workload. In short there will be no reduction in compensation for any
team member for “working less.” Who would not want that? Companies might think that
reducing the number of days people spend will result to reducing the amount of time they spend
in the office and would result in a decrease in the volume of goods or services produced,
lowering a company's revenues. THIS IS UNTRUE. First of all, introducing to a four-day
workweek should free up resources for both the business and its employees. Working one fewer
day per week means not having to worry about paying the bills on the fifth day of work. When a
corporation only works four days a week, it is not necessary to supply electricity, heating, or air
conditioning for all of its facilities on the fifth day; employees who drive corporate vehicles are
not required to do so; etc. This could result in a considerable savings, especially when the
business is having financial difficulties. The firm and its employees may benefit much from
switching to a four-day work week without seeing their pay reduce, since it can help save time
and money, boost employee morale and job satisfaction, lessen weariness and burnout, and
increase productivity. In short, if the work week is shortened to four days instead of five, both
the corporation and its employees may conserve resources. In addition, introducing to a four-day
workweek can improve productivity and attention by reducing staff fatigue and burnout.

But how can we say so?

Employees today frequently arrive at work exhausted. They become less focused as a
result, which hurts their performance. Employees may eventually burn out if their jobs are
stressful and/or difficult. Workers now have half as man free days as they did with a five-day
work week, considerably enhancing their opportunity to take a break. This can keep people
energized throughout their shifts, preventing exhaustion and burnout while also enhancing their
focus and productivity and allowing them to work more effectively. Last but not least, employees
who work four days a week for the same pay should be happier at work and have higher morale,
which is almost certain to improve performance. Such workers can enjoy their jobs more because
they are less tired. The start of a workweek can be made substantially easier for the employees
by reducing the number of workdays. Increased productivity and job satisfaction should also
enable employees to work more efficiently, perhaps completing the task they typically completed
in five days in just four. However, the employees’ salaries should not be reduced, or this may be
perceived as a demotion, thus negating the boost to morale and causing the workers to seek
additional sources of income. All in all, it should be observed that introducing a four-day work
week can provide numerous benefits for both the company and its employees. The organization
can save resources (such as power). And if we save more resources, we have many more to use
from the future so, why would you not want that? It’s like you’re depriving our economy to
strive and keep up and be still left behind.

Also, it can attract more talent among the many benefits of offering a more flexible work
schedule is the ability to attract more talent. Highly qualified professionals are more likely to
apply for jobs with companies that don’t observe rigid work hours, as this helps them take care
of outside obligations or manage a long commute. Better employee retention Millennials, long
advocates of a more flexible work schedule, make up the largest generational sector in the
workforce today. This fact, combined with increased interest in mental and physical well-being
due to the pandemic, means employers should consider offering their employees a more flexible
schedule with a better work/life balance. Offering employees, a more flexible schedule increases
an employee’s incentive to stay with your company long term. Increased employee satisfaction
Employees presented with the opportunity of a four-day work week appreciate the flexible
schedule, fewer tedious tasks at work and more quality time spent at home. This increase in
general well-being lends to higher employee satisfaction, which then leads to the next benefit:
employee retention. Boosted productivity businesses employers who have experimented with a
four-day work week claim their employees noted a three-day weekend significantly reduced
stress at work, improving overall mental health and boosting productivity.
So, for the past year that we've been doing the traditional 5-day work week you can see that most
of the workers are exhausted and doesn't really feel the weekends as their rest days because they
still have works to do even at home and sometimes don't have time to play and bond with their
families. The idea of a 4-day work week is very simple— employees would work for 4 days a
week, from Monday to Thursday or depending on the day the companies will implement, while
getting paid the same, earning the same benefits but with the same workload. In a 4-day work
week it will not just give you another day to rest but also might increase your employee
satisfaction and productivity. But how can we prove it? Well according to the countries who
have embraced the 4-day work week especially the 70% of the US workers, the 5-day work week
is very outdated. They believe that they could get their work done in less than the typical time
allotted. Many of the companies who adopted the 4-day work week 20-40% increase in
productivity. The 4-day work week is not just implemented in the US but in the Europe as well.
They adopted this 4-day work week as their official policy and this was implemented to ensure
the work-life balance for workers regardless of the industry.

Also, a survey conducted by the technology company Ricoh found that 57% of office
workers in Ireland believe that a 4-day work week is likely in the future as technology makes
work efficient.

4-day work week and flexible arrangement mean that there will be more savings because
it eliminates 20% of weekly commuting. It also reduces the stress the employees feel while
commuting and is good for the environment because it lowers gas emissions and electricity
production. It can also be a remedy for job burnout. The results of 3-day weekends to the
workers can greatly support a healthier work life style, and help maintain an accurate work life
balance. Working only 4 days and the promise of free Friday makes employees well rested.

CONCLUSION

The 4-day work week is an idea that is gaining momentum in the business world. It shows that
those countries who implemented and adopted the 4-day work week led to increase productivity,
improved morale, and a better work-life balance. It is an idea that the Philippine companies
should seriously consider to stay competitive in today’s global economy. With its potential to
increase efficiency, morale, and work-life balance, the 4-day work week is a scheme worth
exploring.
 Its benefits are increase in productivity, improved morale, reduced stress and more time
for leisure activities. Employers and employee can make a 4-day work week successful by
having clear expectations, setting realistic goals and ensuring adequate communication.

Its potential impacts include the improved employee engagement, increased productivity
and improved work-life balance.