Too good to be true? Four-day week, three offs; here's why it won't work

Is four-day working week a red flag that we are ignoring and thinking that aww! Gosh, it's just too good to be true. Sorry, to break your heart but there are a few reasons, why it won't work.

Recently, the four-day working week pilot program is taking place in the Ireland, UK, US, Canada, and Australia. In this, the employees will have to follow the 100:80:100 model, where they will get 100 per cent of the pay for 80 per cent of their time and in exchange, they have to give 100 per cent productivity.

The purpose of this scheme is to benefit everyone by improving the work-life balance and increasing the happiness level. It will also focus on reducing unemployment.

However, there have been arguments that this scheme won't work! Here are a few reasons why:

1. Demand= Supply and that will lead to the productivity problem

With four-day working week, there comes the problem of maximum productivity in fewer hours. And, in this case, to maintain the productivity level, the employees would need to increase the output per hour. And to make people give their best output in fewer hours, a toxic work culture may persist where draconian work-floor practices may come into force.

2. Happiness is a mirage!

The scheme to maintain the work-life balance and increase the happiness level might just be the honeymoon period, which might look sweet and all nice initially but in the long run, people might end up asking for their previous level of happiness.

3. Might make some people suffer

The people who will suffer the most due to the four-day working week will be the older workers as they will be expected to give the maximum output in less time. Four-day week may also lead to pay inequality of sorts. People who are already working for 4 days will continue to get a 4-day salary while people who move to a 4-day week will get a 5-day week salary

4. Surge in part-time work will lead to job insecurity

Due to the four-day working week program, the companies will need to hire more part-time workers so that the output does not drop and this will mean that there will be an increase in job insecurity and is also likely to hamper productivity.

5. Labour shortages

This factor might be good as well as bad as there will be an increased demand for labours to fill the hours so that the productivity does not stop and that will eventually lead to labour shortages.

What could be the alternative to the four-day working week?

The increase in official vacation days, bank holidays, and flexible retirement schemes will help improve productivity and increase the happiness level. 

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