The 4 day work week is your answer to declining employee engagement

How a 4 day work week can improve your employee engagement

The 4 day work week can have a profound impact on employee engagement. While our past research has proven this, what stands out most is the qualitative feedback from employees.

Psychology will tell you that people are much more likely to follow plans and rules that they make. Therefore, it is imperative that your employees are part of the design and planning process for trialing a 4 day work week.

Involving them in these vital steps before jumping into a trial means that they now have an incentive to think about how to do their work better and it gives them a stake in the outcome.

What are the impacts of a 4 day work week on employee engagement?

1. Boost morale and job satisfaction

When employees feel that their personal time is valued and that they have a good work-life balance, they are likely to be happier and more satisfied with their jobs.

This can lead to increased engagement as employees are more motivated to contribute to a company that respects their own personal time.

59% of participants reported that they were more satisfied with their time as a result of the 4 day work week trial during the South Africa pilot. One manager said that, “morale was at an all time high” during the 4 day week trial in their company.

2. Increase productivity

With an extra day off, employees can return to work feeling refreshed and ready to focus.

This can lead to higher quality work and increased efficiency, which can boost engagement as employees feel more accomplished and valued for their contributions.

The long-term trial results prove this as over half (51%) of employees said they had more control over their schedules as a result of the 4 day week. They also reported a 57% in their productivity due to the permanent transition to a 4 day work week.

3. Fosters a culture of trust and autonomy

By allowing employees to work fewer days, companies show that they trust their employees to manage their time effectively and get their work done.

This trust can empower employees, leading to increased engagement as they feel more invested in their work and the success of the company.

The Perpetual Guardian whitepaper on the 4 day work week outlines the benefit of trust in flexible workplaces.

Professor Haar, who conducted the quantitative analysis of the 4 day week at Perpetual Guardian notes that employees trust in management went up significantly through the trial. This likely reflects the way that management’s decision to trial the 4 day week shows a fundamental trust in employees.

Overall, this increase in trust has benefits towards engagement, performance and retention, so trust provides a win-win outcome for both employer and employee through flexible working arrangements.

4. Attract and retain the best talent

Many workers value flexibility and work-life balance, and a 4 day work week can be a powerful incentive for potential employees.

This can lead to a more engaged and committed workforce, as employees are likely to be more loyal to a company that supports their personal needs and well-being.

Here is an example of an organization whose employee engagement benefitted from a 4 day work week:

Commission Factory: This Australian-based company implemented a 4 work week and saw their employee satisfaction and retention rate increase from 89 to 95 out of 100. They also reported improvements in productivity and efficiency.