Key Points:
- In the 19th Century, people typically worked six, 12-hour days a week.
- By 1939, the standard workweek in Australia had reduced to 44 hours, spread over 5.5 days.
- The standard 38-hour week most Australians now work was introduced in 1988.
For decades, the standard 38-hour workweek has been spread across five days.
But in recent years, some companies have begun trialling a four-day, 32-hour workweek.
The thinking behind it is that a shorter workweek will give employees a better work-life balance, while also increasing productivity.
The results of what's been touted as
, giving some weight to those assumptions.
Between last June and December, almost 3,000 employees across 61 firms in the UK took part in the trial, which was organised by non-profit group 4 Day Week Global alongside the think tank Autonomy, the University of Cambridge and Boston College in the United States.
Researchers found that the reduction in work days didn't have a negative impact on productivity, with company revenue increasing 1.4 per cent on average over the trial. The overall health and well-being of workers also improved, as did staff retention.
More than 90 per cent of the firms who took part in the trial said they planned to keep the four-day workweek in place.
Why do we have a five-day working week?
Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney Business School, Tony Veal, said the move to a five-day week began with a push to first
.
In the early Industrial Revolution, people typically worked 12-hour days, six days a week, with Sunday as their only day off, he said.
Through strike action in 1856, stonemasons in Victoria became the first Australian workers to achieve an eight-hour working day with no loss of pay.
But it took 60 years for it to become the standard for workers across Victoria and NSW, with the Eight Hours Act not passed in the states' parliaments until 1916.
In 1920, Australian timber workers and engineers were awarded a 44-hour — or 5.5 day — workweek, which was then applied to all industries in 1939. That meant, for most people, working Monday to Friday and then a half day on Saturday.
"Wage negotiations that begin in one industry where unions are strong, or it's highly profitable, then often extend to other industries in time," Profesor Veal said.
It was almost a decade later, in 1948, that the Commonwealth Arbitration Court approved a 40-hour, five-day working week for all Australians in 1948.
Before widespread change in Australia, some employers in countries including the US also reduced workers' hours without cutting their pay.
"You do have the example of Henry Ford, who himself introduced the 40-hour week when everybody else was on 50 in the 1920s," Professor Veal said.
"Kellogg did the same, but they were just seen as pioneer and rather quirky companies, and the rest of the industry didn't necessarily follow their lead until much later."
The standard 38-hour week worked by most Australians was introduced in 1988.
Will everyone eventually move to a four-day work week?
Mark Wooden, professorial fellow with the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research said while a four-day, 32-hour week may be beneficial for some companies, the idea that it could be scaled up, economy-wide is “nonsensical”.
He said for industries that provide in-person service, such as education, healthcare, aged care, and hairdressers, it simply wouldn’t be cost-effective.
"A nurse can't just say, 'right, I won't be on the ward on Friday, I'm going to only work Monday to Thursday'," he said.
"Of course, they have all sorts of rosters, but the bottom line is, if they have to cut the hours by 20 per cent, they're going have to find 20 per cent more people to cover them."
FAQs
The top reasons workers cite for favoring a four-day workweek in the survey, as well as others, are it would improve work-life balance and physical and mental health. It also helped the environment, supporters claimed, by taking some commuting traffic off the streets.
Why do we only work 5 days a week? ›
In 1926, the Ford Motor Company, under the leadership of Henry Ford, famously instituted an eight-hour-a-day, five-day workweek. Then, in the Great Depression, owing to high unemployment, the idea for a 6-hour workweek came into focus.
What are the positives of a 4 day week? ›
By operating a four-day working week, your business could reduce its carbon footprint, helping to achieve sustainability goals. Additionally, a four-day working week could mean fewer commuting employees, helping to reduce carbon emissions from cars and public transport.
Why are companies considering a 4 day work week? ›
Improved work-life balance
One of the main reasons employers are moving to a four-day week is to promote a better work-life balance for their employees. Traditionally, employees spend five days per week at work, leaving them with limited time to tend to their personal lives.
Why is a 4 day school week better than 5 days? ›
With a longer weekend, students have more time to rest and engage in extracurricular activities, which can lead to better attendance during the week. This, in turn, can lead to improved academic performance. Furthermore, a four-day school week can help to boost teacher morale.
What are the benefits of a 5 day work week? ›
It provides a consistent structure where employees work eight hours a day, typically from Monday to Friday. One of the advantages of the five-day workweek is its cost-effectiveness and simplicity. Companies are already accustomed to this structure, and customers expect businesses to be available on Fridays.
Did people always work 5 days a week? ›
Prior to the late 19th century, the work week was typically six days a week or even six and a half day Sunday. Labor was always in short supply, and workers typically worked long hours almost every day.
Why aren t there 5 days in a week? ›
Our use of the seven-day week can be traced back to the astronomically gifted Babylonians and the decree of King Sargon I of Akkad around 2300 BCE. They venerated the number seven, and before telescopes the key celestial bodies numbered seven (the Sun, the Moon and the five planets visible to the naked eye).
Is a 4 day week good or bad? ›
In a 4-day work week, you ideally work for 32 hours a week accompanied by a three-day weekend. An interesting fact is that many companies with 4 day work week report the same level of productivity while working fewer hours because of increased efficiency. That is why should we have a 4-day work week.
Why is a 4-day work week better for the environment? ›
If organisations adopt a 4 day working week, the daily head count in the office drops by approximately 20% and the number of cars on the road drops by at least a fifth. It's a win-win-win scenario for employees, employers and the environment.
Results from a 2022 six-month four-day week trial promoted by campaign group 4 Day Week Global and involving 61 companies in the UK showed that they saw an increase in their average revenues, while 71% of employees reported a decrease in burnout, according to a report.
Why is a 4-day work week better than 5? ›
Engagement, wellbeing and burnout by number of days worked among U.S. employees who work 35+ hours per week. Overall, employees who work four days a week have 56% thriving wellbeing. For fully on-site employees, those who work four days a week have 57% thriving wellbeing, versus only 49% when working five days a week.
Are people happier with the 4-day work week? ›
Employees' physical and mental health improves when organizations embrace a shorter workweek. Research shows people are less stressed, value their jobs more, and have better lives outside of work. Job satisfaction and employee engagement increase.
Would a four-day work week improve mental health? ›
The 4 day week is, without a doubt, a powerful opportunity to improve the health and well-being of your employees. Have a look at this data reported by 4 day week pilot program participants: Two thirds of employees reported less burnout. 33% reported decrease in work-related stress.
How a 4-day work week may lead to higher productivity? ›
'The 4-day week simply makes you happy'
It's been good for business, the company says: Productivity increased by 22%, job applications are up 88%, absenteeism is down by 66%, their carbon footprint is down with people driving less for work, and employees are less tired and happier.
What are the benefits of working 4 to 10 hour days? ›
Happier and Less Stressed Employees
A 4/10 schedule increased employee happiness overall and lessen stress in the workplace. Many employees stated that the flexibility of working 4 days a week instead of 5—whether those days landed on a Monday or a Saturday—gave them more flexibility and more work-life balance.
