# Transitioning into a 4 day week Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-03-06 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Boost Productivity with a Four-Day Week: Microsoft Case Meta Description: Learn how transitioning to a four-day work week can increase productivity by 40% without reducing pay, benefiting both employees and the environment. URL: https://financedigest.com/transitioning-into-a-4-day-weekhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1359740831-1736815997040-compressed.jpg) _By_ **_Marian Evans,_** _Career Coach & Founder of Elevate BC_ If you are sceptical, or even if you’re not, this might help answer a few questions for you… Transitioning into a four-day week whilst also maintaining/increasing productivity sounds impossible for most organisations who already consider themselves efficient. However, in 2019 [Microsoft trialled a four-day week in their Japan office](https://www.financedigest.com/microsoft-unveils-ai-office-copilot-in-fast-moving-race-with-google.html "Microsoft unveils AI office copilot in fast-moving race with Google") and found that productivity actually increased, not only that but it increased by a whopping 40%. What is [really important to note is that the reduction in days from five to four did not mean a reduction in pay](https://www.financedigest.com/with-the-right-active-manager-you-really-do-get-what-you-pay-for.html "With the Right Active Manager, You Really Do Get What You Pay For"). It sounds on the face of it to be a no brainer. However, as with most [things it is a move not to be taken lightly and there are lots to take into consideration](https://www.financedigest.com/the-six-things-you-need-to-consider-before-starting-or-investing-in-an-ico.html "The six things you need to consider before starting or investing in an ICO"), not least the nature of the work and the expectations of stakeholders. The evidence as we have seen it [brings into sharp focus what many Executive Coaches have said for years](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-engaged-in-bringing-down-inflation-to-2-in-two-to-three-years-from-now-villeroy.html "ECB engaged in bringing down inflation to 2% in two to three years from now – Villeroy") – working smarter not harder is the driver of productivity. With this in mind, the focus becomes one of [maximising efficiency and effectiveness](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-maximise-your-virtual-communications-for-effective-team-meetings.html "How to maximise your virtual communications for effective team meetings"), doing more or as much in less time. There are lots of tools to support this and I [expect there is likely to be a growth](https://www.financedigest.com/contract-caterer-compass-expects-2023-profit-growth-to-top-20.html "Contract caterer Compass expects 2023 profit growth to top 20%") in organisations looking for this support. So, if you are considering reducing the [working week](https://www.financedigest.com/spain-offers-to-pay-companies-testing-a-4-day-work-week.html "Spain offers to pay companies testing a 4-day work week") from five to four days there is value in firstly considering your people, your processes and the systems you use. Just as it the case with operational resilience the [businesses that fair best will be the ones who are change ready](https://www.financedigest.com/2018-is-a-year-of-regulation-is-your-business-ready.html "2018 is a year of regulation – is your business ready?") and are able to maximise the opportunity. In theory the move can reduce costs (not wage bill) but certainly having less people occupying [office spaces](https://www.financedigest.com/a-guide-to-finding-office-space-for-your-startup.html "A guide to finding office space for your startup") for example there is a saving, there are also benefits for the environment Research [published recently](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/27/four-day-working-week-would-slash-uk-carbon-footprint-report) by the environmental organisation [Platform London](https://platformlondon.org/) showed that moving the economy to a four-day, 32-hour working week—crucially, with no reduction in pay for workers—would reduce the UK’s carbon footprint by 127 million tonnes per year. This is a pretty attractive proposition not least for [financial institutions](https://www.financedigest.com/a-cloud-migration-guide-for-financial-institutions.html "A Cloud Migration Guide for Financial Institutions") tasked with demonstrating their commitment to ESG (Environmental Social & Governance) I can see for organisations that have a regulatory ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) agenda a move to a four-day week [offers advantages](https://www.financedigest.com/advantages-of-offshore-banks-what-they-have-to-offer-millenials.html "Advantages of offshore banks: what they have to offer Millenials") Whilst on the topic of resilience one of the [key reasons behind the increased productivity is the improvement in the personal resilience of the workforce](https://www.financedigest.com/6-keys-to-managing-a-remote-first-workforce.html "6 Keys to Managing a Remote-First Workforce"). Personal resilience is dependent on a host of factors including mental toughness, physical well-being, connectedness and emotional balance and purpose. If by spending less time in work, we [invest in these areas then we become](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-becoming-less-attractive-for-investment-manufacturers-warn-2.html "UK becoming less attractive for investment, manufacturers warn") more effective, happier and more productive. We [bring our best version of ourselves to work and the employer](https://www.financedigest.com/neyber-brings-on-board-james-malia-to-leadership-team-to-support-employers-success-in-driving-employee-financial-resilience-goals.html "Neyber brings on board James Malia to leadership team to support employers’ success in driving employee financial resilience goals") benefits greatly from this. Happy [teams improve](https://www.financedigest.com/improving-your-it-team-in-four-simple-steps.html "Improving your IT team in four simple steps") culture, and this paves the way for success. So why is a [positive culture](https://www.financedigest.com/alone-together-how-to-maintain-a-positive-company-culture-while-working-remotely.html "Alone together: How to maintain a positive company culture while working remotely") so powerful? Well, it’s not just that [efficient and effective systems and processes](https://www.financedigest.com/1-easy-tip-to-make-a-key-e-commerce-process-more-efficient.html "1 easy tip to make a key e-commerce process more efficient") reduce frustration and distraction, when people are happy and motivated, we see a direct impact on stress, absence, sickness and general HR issues including conflict. Gracie Blakely economic commentator made a great point recently that the four-day [week ‘… would provide some respite for some of the hardest-working people in our country’](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-countries-eye-deal-on-more-energy-measures-within-weeks.html "EU countries eye deal on more energy measures within weeks") So, this all sounds good but there is a caveat. Not all sectors can be so flexible. Some [businesses work 27/7 and a four-day week has a big](https://www.financedigest.com/smishing-is-a-new-virus-plaguing-big-business-conversational-commerce-to-the-rescue.html "‘Smishing’ is a new ‘virus’ plaguing big business – Conversational Commerce to the rescue!") impact on shifts. There are also those who are worried that they simply can’t complete their duties in four days, meaning they will work long [hours](https://www.financedigest.com/madrid-street-sweepers-death-prompts-curbs-on-heatwave-working-hours.html "Madrid street-sweeper’s death prompts curbs on heatwave working hours") in those 4 days which actually has a much greater impact on their work life balance. Maybe the answer is five shorter days…that’s a debate for another day. The four-day [week is also an attractive](https://www.financedigest.com/global-equity-funds-attract-inflows-for-second-week-in-a-row.html "Global equity funds attract inflows for second week in a row") proposition to those looking for a new employer. According to zip [recruiter firms](https://www.financedigest.com/global-blockchain-services-firm-wachsman-recruits-key-executives-from-jefferies-and-j-p-morgan-to-lead-new-strategy-division.html "Global Blockchain Services Firm WACHSMAN Recruits Key Executives from Jefferies and J.P. Morgan to Lead New Strategy Division") that advertise four day weeks are receiving an average of 13 per cent more applications. In the current talent revolution that is a [big deal](https://www.financedigest.com/big-pharma-may-have-to-reveal-government-deals-in-whos-draft-pandemic-rules.html "Big Pharma may have to reveal government deals in WHO’s draft pandemic rules"). Who wouldn’t want to [attract the best talent](https://www.financedigest.com/duecourse-attracts-former-apple-tech-talent.html "DueCourse Attracts Former Apple Tech Talent")? Another positive of the four-day week is that it makes life a little easier to balance the [demand of work](https://www.financedigest.com/apples-australian-workers-go-on-christmas-strike-demanding-better-wages-work-terms.html "Apple’s Australian workers go on Christmas strike demanding better wages, work terms") and home particularly for caregivers including parents. Have you tried to get a Dr or dentist appointment after hours?! It also gives time for household chores that otherwise (for most of us) get done on the weekend. Is it just me?! There are currently pilots going ahead all over the world to assess the viability of the move. Many [remain unconvinced but if the pilots demonstrate a break-even or increase](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-expenditure-sees-its-biggest-increase-in-a-decade-while-income-remains-stagnant.html "UK expenditure sees its biggest increase in a decade, while income remains stagnant  ") in productivity then for many it will be a logical decision for many. However, some [sectors will be easier to change](https://www.financedigest.com/finance-sector-workers-average-lunch-hour-just-37-minutes-how-can-the-office-change-this.html "Finance Sector Workers’ Average ‘Lunch Hour’ Just 37 Minutes – How Can The Office Change This?") than others as will be the case for individuals. Some predict it will expediate the [drive for automation](https://www.financedigest.com/top-3-reasons-2021-will-drive-automation-acceleration.html "Top 3 Reasons 2021 Will Drive Automation Acceleration") and potentially longer-term impacts. Watch this space. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---