Does the United States have a 4 Day Work Week?
Jackson Kerchis, Director of WorkFour.org, explains the history of the shorter workweek in the US as well as the prospects for it in the near future.
Does the US have a 4 day work week?
The short answer: no, or at least, not yet…
The idea of a 4 day work week in the United States has sparked widespread interest and debate in recent years. In fact, in March of 2024 there was a highly publicized Senate hearing on the US having a 4 day work week.
As individuals seek better work-life balance, and as companies explore strategies to enhance productivity and employee engagement, the idea of condensing the traditional work week into fewer days has gained traction.
Who works a 4 day week in the US?
But does the US currently have a 4 day work week? The answer still remains - No. There are several hundred companies and some public sector organizations like the Golden, CO Police who have adopted a 4 day work week. But this is not yet the norm.
That said it seems that there is potential for the 4 day work week to take hold in the US.
Let's jump into the historical context, current practices, and potential future developments for the 4 day work week in the US.
The history of the work week in the US
Throughout its history, the United States has undergone significant shifts in the structure of the work week.
The standardization of a 40-hour work week was established under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in the 1930s, setting the precedent for a five-day work week. However, the distribution of these hours across the week has evolved over time, with variations and experiments occurring within different industries and companies.
In fact, we see that for about 100 years, working hours dropped steadily across most industries.
However, this trend did not last. Since the 1970s US workers in most roles and in most industries are working more hours than before. This is in part a driver of the increased dialogue around whether the US should have a 4 day work week.
Could the US ever have a 4 day work week?
At present, the traditional Monday-to-Friday 40-hour work week remains the dominant model in the US. However, there has been growing interest in alternative work schedules, including the adoption of a 4 day work week. While not yet widespread, some companies and organizations have experimented with shorter work weeks as a means of improving work-life balance, boosting employee morale, and enhancing productivity.
A few notable examples:
Kickstarter – This crowdfunding platform launched a 4 day week in 2022 and saw measurable improvements in retention, engagement, and productivity.
Golden, CO Police Department – The police department launched a pilot in 2023 and found improvements in officer satisfaction and improved response times.
AdvancedRV – This Ohio manufacturer of custom RVs found that employee morale improved dramatically without sacrificing productivity.
There are several hundred US companies who have completed pilots and nearly all of them stay with a 4 day week once they try it. It’s worth noting that while the 4 day week is the most common point of discussion, many employers have found success with other work time reduction initiatives such as every other Friday off or 20% reductions in hours.
When will a 4 day work week become a reality in the US?
The future of the work week in the US is likely to be influenced by a variety of factors, including societal trends, technological advancements, and shifting workplace norms.
While the widespread adoption of a 4 day work week may not be imminent, ongoing discussions and experiments suggest that alternative work schedules will continue to be explored and evaluated by businesses and policymakers.
Employers seem to realize that to remain innovative and competitive for talent they must rethink work. And policymakers seem to note that the vast majority of Americans are in support of a 4 day week (77% according to a 2023 Gallup poll).
While the United States currently does not have a nationwide 4 day work week, the concept is gaining attention and consideration as individuals and organizations seek innovative ways to structure work and balance competing priorities.
By reflecting on the historical context, examining current practices, and anticipating future developments, we can better understand the evolving nature of the work week in the US and its potential implications for the future of work.
