As both a student and a worker, having a four-day workweek could be the best action that America could take currently. For example, Microsoft, a popular technology company in the U.S., switched to a four-day workweek, which greatly increased productivity since Microsoft reported a 40% productivity increase. If Microsoft can report an increase in productivity at this level, imagine what other companies could achieve with this new system.
Not only could companies improve their productivity levels, but they could also make the work environment feel more friendly and mentally benefit their workers. Studies have proven that those who work a job during the five-day workweek have shown a decrease in productivity, motivation, and even signs of depression since it is essentially just a repetitive cycle: waking up, personal care, eating, working, and coming home to relax just to have their other responsibilities continue to make them work. In the same case, students have shown a decrease in average grades over the years, lower average attendance, and even an increase in fighting, likely caused by stress build-up. Given the opportunity to rest and regain their focus, students struggling with their grades could see a GPA increase which would help our ongoing struggle with the average GPA and literacy rates decreasing.
If we had a four-day workweek, people could stay caught up in their school studies and use the extra time off of work to recover for the next week. Breaks such as the weekend and Christmas break aren’t only used to allow teachers to catch up on grading and refresh students’ brains and bodies, increasing their energy, productivity, and ability to focus. The only reason why teachers fall behind on grading is because of the current five-day workweek, which puts pressure on the teachers who might already have to balance their family life and work life. If they don’t have a family, the four-day workweek could influence their social life outside of school which could cause other relationships to break.
That’s why I strongly agree with switching to a four-day workweek. Not only do employees and students get the time to catch up on their responsibilities and personal lives, but switching to a four-day workweek also cuts costs for businesses and schools, increases productivity and morale, and is overall more beneficial for everyone involved. Since employees and students would have a more stable mindset and could take more breaks, the four-day workweek could also correct our national crisis of mental health and maybe encourage newer generations to take up full-time jobs instead of gig jobs.
