Pros and Cons of the Four-Day Work Week

It is no surprise that people all over are feeling the pinch of high gas prices; and consumers are not the only ones discovering new ways to adapt. Companies are realizing that it is becoming increasingly difficult to acquire and retain quality staff. This is because for some, the cost of getting to work is outweighing the actual benefits of working. In recent years, telecommuting has been a viable option for people whose job functions didn't require face-to-face interaction on a daily basis. But now, in addition to telecommuting, many companies are offering their employees the option of working a four-day work week; instead of working 8 hours per day, that number would increase to 10, leaving one day off per week. Though I worked relatively close to my home, I had the opportunity to take advantage this alternative schedule and came to some interesting conclusions.

Pro #1 - It's like having four days of "extra" vacation time a month.

In embarking upon the four-day work week, one of the things that I noticed immediately was that having a day off every week felt absolutely decadent. The idea that your work days are cut from five to four (even if the number of hours worked is the same) sort of tricked me into feeling like I was being given something for free.

Pro #2 - The day off gives people a chance to regroup and refresh themselves.

Having an additional day off in the week provides the opportunity to do the things that you don't normally get to do during the day. Watching mindless television, catching up on personal hobbies, or simply getting some extra (and much needed) sleep can do wonders for the psyche. These are things that I found myself taking for granted when I worked five days straight. I found that when I did these things on my day off, I was more focused upon returning to the office.

Pro #3 - Fuel is being saved, and therefore money.