-Isms: Views on life in rural America

Is a four-day work week a perk of the job?

If national news reports are correct, work-life balance may become more manageable - and soon - as companies trim off one work day.

Thanks to the pandemic, companies discovered employees can work from pretty much anywhere, anytime. Thus, conversation about shortening the work week to four days - more than likely trimming Fridays - has sprung up around the globe.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 32% of U.S. employers offer a reduced workweek. For some companies, a day off isn’t set-in-stone policy, rather an option employees may elect to exercise.

Some companies report the time off has boosted creativity and output. A trial program in New Zealand reported that 100% pay, for 80% work, increases productivity 100%.

On April Fool’s Day, many U.S. businesses joined a worldwide effort, launched by 4 Day Week Global, to experiment with the shortened week. During the trail period, companies will join efforts with researchers from Boston College, to measure two things: productivity and employee well-being.

Instead of cramming five days of work into four, participating companies will limit the workweek to 32 hours.

A January study from Qualtrics said a shortened workweek improved their mental health.

I’ll be the first to admit, I wouldn’t mind having one day off each week. I’m sure my house would appreciate it, too. News (and farming) never sleeps, though, so Scott and I find a balance that works for us and rely on our top-notch co-workers to handle things when we do take time off.

With an abbreviated workweek, I could possibly get caught up on laundry, do some yard work, organize my home office.

Who am I kidding? One of two (maybe three) things will happen:

• I’ll head to the nearest metropolis for a day of cultural activities and shopping.

• We’ll head to the nearest fishing hole, hoping to hook a walleye or two.

• I’ll end up in my office, finishing things not accomplished the day before, planning ahead for the future.

More than likely, option three will be the winner.

Will this model work for all industries? I’m not sure. For customer service-type businesses, it will depend on the number of employees within an organization and a willingness to work - and even find workers. It’s worth a try.