Belgium is giving workers the right to a four-day work week without a loss of salary
The nation's prime minister, Alexander De Croo, argues the shorter workweek will increase productivity and makes sense with flexible working conditions adopted during the pandemic. Workers won't be working fewer hours: Instead, they will work 10-hour days and work one less day per week.
Companies can still turn down an employee's request for the shorter week, but they need to justify their response in writing.
Belgium joins other nations that have tried the four-day workweek or are starting it in the future: Finland, Japan, Scotland and Wales.
Q: Would a four-day workweek be successful in the U.S.?
James Hamilton, University of California, San Diego
YES: Many Americans are already on a four-day workweek, and more businesses are offering that option every year. But whether this is workable really depends on the kind of job you do, the kind of equipment you work with, and the other people you have to interact with. I'm opposed to treating this as something that Congress should decide or mandate for everybody. It should be up to the worker and the employer on a case-by-case basis.
Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth
YES: While it depends on the specific business and therefore should not be applied universally, certain roles (e.g. retail attendants, information workers) work well under a four day/10 hours a day workweek. There are often logistical considerations that must be addressed (staggering the extra day off between employees to maintain coverage), but I would love to see more workplaces compete on quality of life to vie for limited talent.
Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health
NO: I don't think that the approach Belgium is taking would be feasible in the United States. That's especially true for employers such as health care, which wouldn't be able to function if employees were able to decide to work four days one week and five days the next. While health care employers do offer a four-day, 10-hour-day workweek to some employees, the option to change that regularly would create a scheduling nightmare for health care and other 24/7 businesses.
Norm Miller, University of San Diego
YES: There is nothing wrong with any number of days or times slots for those with stamina for long days. We should no longer insist on a one format or even one set number of hours per week fits all model. Flexibility is key to reducing turnover and retaining good people. Management must learn how to measure productivity, not by hours worked, but by results, and let the compensation correlate with the same.
Jamie Moraga, IntelliSolutions
YES: The pandemic has forced companies to consider a shift in workplace culture to combat burnout and the Great Resignation. Along with flexible and remote work schedules, a four-day workweek (working four 10-hour days) could help recruit and retain employees. This isn't a one-size fits all model as some companies and industries must be available for their customers five-days a week. However, it could be successful if companies can remain competitive and employees can be efficient, productive, and deliver similar (or better) results.
David Ely, San Diego State University
YES: A four-day workweek can work for some employees at some organizations. This is already an option at some U.S. companies. The likelihood of success is greatest at organizations where employees routinely work 40 hours per week or less, employees have time-consuming commutes, the nature of work is such that employees can stay productive throughout a 10-hours workday, and the quality of customer service is not impacted by shifting to a shorter workweek.
Ray Major, SANDAG
YES: Work schedule flexibility definitely adds to quality of life and is becoming important criteria for many people when accepting an employment offer. The historical M-F 40hr/week isn't as appealing to Gen Z, Gen X or millennial workers as it has been for the baby boomer generation. It's time to consider the needs and desires of the younger workforce.
Lynn Reaser, Point Loma Nazarene University
YES: Its experience in other countries and even in certain U.S. companies has shown positive results on employee satisfaction and productivity. The favorable impact of anticipating a long weekend could boost productivity. Consumer service and global logistics could, however, suffer without another day of access. Hospitals and other 24-7 businesses can implement 10-hour shifts, while retailers and others depending on sales spread throughout the week cannot.
Reginald Jones, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation
YES: Beyond providing employees better work-life balance, four-day work week trials have shown other important advantages. Companies who have experimented or introduced the four-day working week show higher productivity, as well as greater focus, reduced fatigue, less absenteeism, and overall better employee attitudes. With a different work week arrangement, businesses should help employees understand the practice of working smarter rather than longer. The centuries-ago-established working model is overdue for scrapping. The four-day work week — without pay loss — is one good transition.
Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research
YES: The advantage of flexibility to have the same number of work hours over a shorter workweek seems rather obvious. Of course, depending upon individual circumstances of the business, four-day workweeks could not only be successful but advantageous in lowering costs by not starting up and closing down an extra day of the week. Places where this was tried show productivity not only did not lessen but often significantly increased, as well as worker satisfaction rose.
Phil Blair, Manpower
YES: Let's be clear we are talking 10 hour days for four days at the same pay as eight hours for five days. This saves on travel time, distributes the rush hour traffic and allows for three day weekends free of work concerns. If this matches the customer service needs, then it is big win.
Gary London, London Moeder Advisors
YES: The timing couldn't be better as our working norms have been otherwise disrupted over the past two years of pandemic. Many firms are permanently moving to flexible work hours and location (work some at home, some in the office). It follows that a shorter work week should be served up as yet another option. This would particularly benefit workers who have to be on location, such as in manufacturing. And I believe would greatly increase mental health and the overall quality of life.
Alan Gin, University of San Diego
YES: Some businesses already do this or another variation where workers work nine nine-hour days and then have the 10th workday off. Either format gives workers an extra free day to deal with non-work issues, either weekly or every other week. That would help in improving work-life balance. Workers could also be more productive, as there would be one less round trip commute to be made, which frees up time for work or other tasks.
Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates
YES: For nearly 100 years, there have been considerations for a four-day work week. The work/life balance would improve and most studies indicate productivity would increase. This would mean the same amount of work could potentially be completed in less time if employees are motivated, however, this should not be a mandate. California has an eight-hour overtime law and certain industries, like our hotels, operate 24/7 and have to find other ways to reduce workplace stress.
