Is Thursday about to become the new Friday? UConn’s Robert Bird spoke with the Washington Post about the possibility of a four-day workweek and what might be the driving force behind it:

New Zealand’s and Finland’s prime ministers have floated the idea of a four-day workweek. The U.K. Labour Party in 2019 campaigned on the idea that workweeks would be shortened in the next decade.

A number of employers have also begun to move in that direction. On Tuesday, Kickstarter announced it would reduce employees’ hours without reducing pay next year, reported the Atlantic.

Microsoft in Japan instituted a temporary three-day weekend in August 2019 – which resulted in a reported 40% increase in productivity, according to the company, and reduced electricity consumption and paper printing.

“A five-day workweek was never a given,” Robert Bird, a professor of business law at the University of Connecticut, told The Washington Post, adding that unions fought hard to scrap the six-day workweek norm in the early 1900s. “A five-day workweek was never something that was unchangeable or immutable.”

“Younger people are demanding more out of their work environment than just a paycheck,” he said. “They want to work with someone who believes in their values – and the expression of a four-day workweek sends a signal that the company cares about work-life balance in a significant and meaningful way.” June 25 – Washington Post

It’s an interesting concept, and one that will be getting a lot of attention. If you are a journalist looking to cover this topic, let our experts help with your stories.

Robert Bird is an expert in the areas of corporate compliance, employment law, legal strategy, business ethics, and corporate governance. Professor Bird is available to speak with media – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.