4 Day Week. What is in a name?
As a team we are always talking about how to describe what we do. Are we 4 Day Week, Four-day week, 4 day work week, Four-day work week or just simply reduced hours working? Do we have a hyphen, do we use capitals? Obviously, some of these questions are a matter of correct grammar and written language rules. But then there is marketing, social media, hashtags and having a catchy line to use.
No matter what you call it, what we actually stand for is helping business be productive in less time so employees can spend more time away from work and remain on the same pay.
We are not about reducing time and reducing productivity or pay. As our businesses have increased the use of technology we have accepted the increase in productivity this brings, however, even before the pandemic, this has lead to an increase of our “on” time with work. The 21st century is the time to change this and bring back the balance we once enjoyed when we brought in the 5 day week and then the 40 hour week.
The manic language of the likes of Jack Ma with his 9-9-6 (9am to 9pm, 6 days a week – that’s 72 hours) is a great culture for him to base his business model on. What is his business model? It is one based on making money for Jack Ma. What are the wages you would want to be paid to lose your health, your relationships, not have time to better educate yourself so you can get a better paying job, have no time for sport or community engagement, only have time to get takeaways. How much will you be paid for a divorce, children who don’t know you, your first and/or subsequent burnouts? How much will you be paid to continue to damage our planet?
Instead, we ask employers to remember that we borrow our people from their lives.
So, what is in a name? We think our name – 4 Day Week – is about building the sustainable business community which recognises its place in building the society we want for ourselves and our children.
