Retaining employees is a key challenge for many companies. High turnover rates can be costly and disruptive, leading to lost productivity, decreased morale, and increased hiring and training costs. One solution that has gained traction in recent years is the 4-day work week.

The idea is simple: Instead of working the traditional 5-day work week, employees work a compressed schedule of 4 longer days, with the fifth day off. This provides employees with an additional day to rest, catch up on personal tasks, or spend time with family and friends. Instead of living to work, employees begin working to live. The benefits of a 4-day work week include reduced stress and burnout, better work-life balance, and improved overall job satisfaction. In recent study of 2,900 workers in the UK who implemented a 4-day workweek, 71% reported less burnout, 39% reported less stress, and 48% were more satisfied with their job than before the study.

Why Does a 4-Day Work Week Improve Employee Retention?

But how can a 4-day work week be implemented as an ongoing retention strategy? One approach is to pilot the program with a small group of employees and gather feedback on its effectiveness. This can help identify any issues that may arise and provide an opportunity to make adjustments before rolling out the program to the entire company.

Another key factor in the success of a 4-day work week is communication. Leaders should clearly communicate the goals and expectations of the program to employees, as well as provide regular check-ins to ensure that employees are adjusting well and that any concerns are addressed.

In addition to improving employee satisfaction and retention, a 4-day work week can also have positive impacts on the company’s bottom line. By reducing the number of hours employees work each week, companies may see reductions in absenteeism, sick days, and burnout. This can lead to increased productivity and higher quality work, as employees are more focused and engaged during their time at work. The pilot program mentioned above reported that 92% of the companies that implemented a 4-day workweek, decided to continue with the shortened schedule after the study.

Challenges for Implementing a 4-Day Work Week 

Of course, implementing a 4-day work week is not without its challenges. One concern is that employees may struggle to complete their work in a shorter period of time, leading to increased stress and anxiety. Additionally, some industries or jobs may not be well-suited to a 4-day work week, such as those that require employees to be on-call or work in shifts.

Overall, implementing a 4-day work week as an ongoing retention strategy can lead to happier, more productive employees who are more likely to stay with the company long-term. According to UK environmental consultancy Tyler Grange, employees “come into work at the start of the week on a Monday, having had three days rest, and feeling much more positive about work and have a lot more energy”. By providing a better work-life balance and demonstrating a commitment to employee well-being, companies can improve retention and build a stronger, more loyal and engaged workforce.

In fact, author and personal finance pundit, Ramit Sethi, did a 4-day work week experiment at his company.  He found that using a 4-day work week improved his employee’s job satisfaction and life satisfaction.  It was such a win-win that Sethi made the practice permanent. 

Are you having trouble retaining staff? Uplift Recruitment can help you find the right person for your job. We take the time to understand every candidate’s situation and match them with roles that work well with their lives.