What would you do with your extra day in a four-day workweek?

47 Comments

1. Heide FramilFebruary 26,2022 at 1:16PM UTC

   A four-day work week would mean extended working hours and that would be too exhausting for a mother like me. Not in favor of it.

2. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 1:29PM UTC

   This is true; to get my every other Friday off, I work 9 hour days. But for me; it's worth it.

3. Gretchen SkalkaFebruary 26,2022 at 2:39PM UTC

   This is such an interesting and typically red-flag topic for so many people.

   I don't think you can apply any work style or rule unilaterally since industry, market demand, consumer needs, geographic trends and other factors vary so widely, despite all of those becoming more and more connected through increasingly sophisticated technology.

   In many areas, people are already working in excess of 8 hours per day. Often, this is a creeping effect.

   -- Shaving a few minutes off lunch or a break to finish a project, get ahead on correspondence, prepare for a meeting, etc.

   -- Getting in a few minutes early (or staying a few minutes later) - often do to many of the same tasks mentioned above.

   -- Ad hoc needs that demand attention, taking us away from a current need - thus lengthening the time we need to invest in our workdays

   -

   And it doesn't stop there.

   -- That vacation you shortened by a day because there was a meeting/review/project/etc that needed your attention.

   -- Working through a break or while ON vacation due to the same.

   -- That early morning or evening call just to review some things.

   -- Email - checking it, answering it, forwarding it, etc.

   -

   And these are just off the top of my head.

   Point being that there is often a sort of daily 'scope creep' of work-related items that make working 8+ hours a day more of a reality than a lot of us realize.

   -

   All of that being said - I often wonder if the better question isn't what would you do with an extra day if you moved to a 4-day workweek, but rather, are you potentially working close to or an actual 6-day workweek already -- just that it's not 'on the books'?

4. AnonymousFebruary 26,2022 at 3:01PM UTC

   This is insanely aspirational at best. Most people, myself included, aren’t working less than 12 hours a day (at minimum!) at the moment. And personally I’m working 6-7 days a week and the work still piles in. A four day work week could be feasible IF the resourcing model (headcount and team structure) supports the workload or if you happen to work for a company that has created other efficiencies with technology and external resources. If not, then companies and employees enforcing no-meeting days once a week so you have a full business day to actually DO work vs going from meeting to meeting collecting more…that could be achievable…

5. AnonymousFebruary 26,2022 at 8:51PM UTC

   the only folks I've seen that thrive on a 4 day workweek are those that have a spouse at home during the week to take care of shopping, laundry, running the kids to appts and sports, and other chores.

6. Paula BrantnerFebruary 28,2022 at 6:12AM UTC

   I had a long-term volunteer gig on Fridays, and I turned off my meeting calendar on Fridays as well. I’m not doing it now due to the pandemic, but I think it’s a great opportunity to make a commitment to do something that recharges you, or develops skills you haven’t had the opportunity to work on yet. I also think that more time just to rest and recover, and let your brain focus on whatever creativity is needed for your work is useful. Is there someplace like a local park or library or someplace you could go on the extra day just to write or draw or watch nature or whatever it is you like to do? (I also like traveling, so a three-day weekend is an opportunity to do more of that.)

7. Ashley BrackenFebruary 28,2022 at 1:16PM UTC

   I already work 10 hour days and would love to work 4 days a week however my line of work would not flourish with 4 day work week. I could do it however my pipeline would suffer along with my pay.

8. Mare BFebruary 28,2022 at 1:18PM UTC

   Those who started the four-day workweek discussion are tend to be anti-remote work. I would still rather work five days from home vs. four days in an office.

9. C AllenFebruary 28,2022 at 1:37PM UTC

   THIS^^^^

10. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 1:25PM UTC

    This question is so easy for me to answer. There are so many things in our life that need our attention and we don't provide that attention because we are working five days per week I went to a four-day work week about 8 years ago and I will absolutely never return to 5 days. On my day off, I visit my 85 year old mother. I balance the checkbook and catch up on laundry and do Christmas shopping and have lunch with my husband and take casserole to my neighbor with stage 4 breast cancer and plan to repaint the bedroom and a million other things that need to be addressed and don't get my attention if I'm at work on the 5th day. I will never ever return to working 5 days per week because my quality of life improved significantly and I became more the well-rounded person that I want to be taking an additional day away from work

11. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 1:27PM UTC

    I already kind of do this. However, I work four tens, which can be grueling. The verdict is out, honestly, on whether it saves stress. I do enjoy having the extra day to get household chores completed without having to worry about work obligations. However, I sometimes feel like, "I have this long weekend, but all I do is work, anyway." I'm thinking of asking about cutting back my hours just slightly (to 36 from 40) to compensate. I'm honestly just wasting those extra four hours trying to generate ideas, ideas that I could just as easily generate while my hands were in a soapy bucket of water while I cleaned the floor. However, I'd never meet my productivity targets (we use keystroke measuring software) if I worked the way I actually wanted to, letting my creative mind wander while my hands get busy on something that needs done, like the dinner dishes.

12. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 1:28PM UTC

    I have this set up. I'm off every other Friday. I love it and will never go back. I can do all my errands without that stuff eating into my weekends. I can volunteer with my daughter's school. And then Monday, I am refreshed, with clean laundry and prepped meals for the week.

13. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 1:40PM UTC

    I used to have a 9/80 schedule so I had a 10hr a day schedule and a 4 day work week every other week. This was sooooo very ideal, as a single parent. Every other week I had overtime built into my base pay and the weeks I had Friday off I did whatever I wanted. I could schedule doctors appointments, run errands, or simply recharge with a day completely to myself while the kids were in school. It was a mental health day for sure! My company stopped doing it prior to CV19. Their suggestion for us is to now have 1 wfh day a week. It's a scam. I HATE THEIR INABILITY TO TREAT US LIKE ADULTS.

14. KelleyFebruary 28,2022 at 1:55PM UTC

    I’d put in appointments or activities with my nephew or even just getting things done around the house. It would allow me to avoid taking as much PTO so I could save it for when I truly need/want to take it.

15. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 2:13PM UTC

    I would find some actual work-life balance with a 4-day work week. But I think it has to be further defined - I am not at all interested in a shorter work week with the same responsibilities and overall hourly commitment. While I am in a salaried role, my company is still very archaic in their thinking as I have to account for 8 hours every work day.

    I would love a lighter work load and shifted expectations to work a manageable 4 days instead of 5, but I don’t see it ever happening. I’d love to start with a manageable work load for 5 days.

16. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 2:15PM UTC

    I recently left a company that the typical schedule was 4 -10's. The only thing the extra day off was good for was shopping and dr appointments.

    The week days are so long that nothing was accomplished at home during the week.

17. HeatherFebruary 28,2022 at 2:16PM UTC

    I would schedule doctor's appointments, spend quality time with my husband while our daughter is at school, run errands, catch up on housework, and volunteer at my daughter's school. The big thing for me would be appointments. Right now, I stress so much about taking time for routine screenings and such, because it takes so much time away from work.

18. CJB62February 28,2022 at 2:17PM UTC

    Run errands, have those appointments (car repair, hair, doctor l) that are difficult to schedule when you are limited to Saturdays only. Volunteer. Have another morning where I can actually do my morning routine and exercise, meditate rather than having to jump out of bed and rush to get out the door to work.

19. Joanna PoeFebruary 28,2022 at 2:25PM UTC

    A 4-day workweek would allow you to reclaim the weekend for actual weekend stuff instead of trying to cram in errands, shopping, etc. You could also avoid taking personal time for the doctor, dentist, etc, and simply schedule those appointments for your spare weekday.

    Remember that the 5-day, 40-hour workweek was designed around workers being in a relationship where their partner did not work, so it doesn't really allow us to fit life in as well, what with our current norms.

20. MJFebruary 28,2022 at 2:26PM UTC

    Errands, food shopping, housework, doctor appointments. To have an extra day, even mid week would make life a little less stressful.

21. Dimple PatadiaFebruary 28,2022 at 2:36PM UTC

    Get all the errands done, take dr appointments, do volunteer work, while kids are at school have some me time.

22. Molly MilanoFebruary 28,2022 at 2:40PM UTC

    Breath. As a new mom, a bonus week day would be amazing. Do appointments, errands, read a book, clean house, take a nap, & laundry.

    So then on the other 2 weekend days we can do fun family things and not be a mean chore monster.

23. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 3:06PM UTC

    I have worked a 10 hour/day 4 day/week schedule for three years. I use my free day to run personal errands. As the mom of three children, I need to warn those who are considering this schedule that having an extra weekday free every week results in an even great imbalance in parenting responsibilities. I wish I could change my schedule back to five days/week, because now I’m doing nearly all the parenting work AND working a full time job.

24. Sally RichardFebruary 28,2022 at 3:31PM UTC

    I work a 4 day work week and use day 5 for cleaning. Occasionally I run errands but for the most part, my entire day is spent catching up on laundry, cleaning bedrooms (small kids that don't quite understand a clean room yet), vacuuming, etc. So that I can actually enjoy my weekend and do nothing. If you don't have a flexible work place like I do, using the extra day for appointments would also be helpful. I love the flexibility so much.

25. Angie Lawson BlumeFebruary 28,2022 at 4:01PM UTC

    Continuing education/learning goals; hanging out with my dogs; running errands/appts that I would have to take time off otherwise - anything that frees up a weekend or PTO day.

26. Pamela TorresFebruary 28,2022 at 4:08PM UTC

    Rest, catch up with chores, spend more time with the family, complete extra projects, and earn certs.

    I would approach my managers about a 4 day work week, but they couldn't micromanage the staff with that schedule.

27. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 4:20PM UTC

    I worked a 4 day work week for 15 years. It allows you to have time to breathe, get chores done, get doc appointments scheduled, visit family etc. Be flexible if offered. Sometimes you need to be available on that 5th day. The greatest work benefit is the quiet time before and after the 8 hour folks work and you can concentrate and get work done!! Lost them when someone got jealous. Now work 5 10’s. Not sure why I’m still here. :-/

28. Jennifer BauerFebruary 28,2022 at 4:54PM UTC

    I got laid off from a web-development job in 2001, and rode out the rest of the dot-com crash as a Seasonal Tax Examiner for the IRS. They offered a 4/10 schedule. I asked for Wednesdays off, and used it to schedule interviews for when the season was over.

29. TNBrownFebruary 28,2022 at 5:09PM UTC

    I would use the extra day off to travel or practice more photography. Photography is a hobby of mine, and over the past 2 yrs, I've spent a lot of my free time attending photo walks and testing out new equipment.

30. Joycelyn M. SiameFebruary 28,2022 at 5:11PM UTC

    It would be a completely ME day... completely self care.

31. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 5:20PM UTC

    The choices are AMAZING! Enjoy a long weekend getaway, use that day for household chores (or supervising a cleaning team), sleep in and go out for brunch, run weekday errands,

    curl up with a good book, do meal prep, just relax and let the workday stress melt away... :)

32. Leader135412February 28,2022 at 5:40PM UTC

    I would use the time to shift through old stuff. At 58 I've accumulated alot of stuff. Becoming a minimalist is my goal. I used to live like a gypsy, had less stuff. And it's easier to move with only the basics.

33. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 6:18PM UTC

    I would use that time to go hiking, re-charge, probably do all my household chores so my Sat/Sun. is totally free. Or sometimes based on the weather - nothing at all. It's nice just to read a book, listen to music.

34. Jessie AdamczykFebruary 28,2022 at 7:44PM UTC

    What a dream! I would spend time with my young children, get in a full workout session, and study as I work through my MBA. It would be such a boon for my mental health!

35. Liz PerryFebruary 28,2022 at 9:39PM UTC

    I would travel! Not having to take extra time off would allow for more quick weekend trips.

36. AnonymousFebruary 28,2022 at 10:52PM UTC

    We used to do this in the summer (although we still had to work 40 hours with only 30 minutes for lunch vs. our usual hour, which meant we didn't go home until 6pm M-Th) - but overall, I loved it! It was great for getting errands done, or just having a longer weekend out of town without having to take off more time.

37. Ashton CreelFebruary 28,2022 at 11:17PM UTC

    I would get myself into so many more home projects! Especially building and maintaining a garden of some kind.

38. Sophia AntoineMarch 2,2022 at 8:56PM UTC

    I would definitely make more wreaths and garden.

39. Kelli CantrellMarch 1,2022 at 12:14AM UTC

    I would spend the day studying online marketing and building my business. Then spend the rest of the day walking in a local park.

40. Teri GibsonMarch 1,2022 at 2:49AM UTC

    I would get much done at work, and spend a day to take care of things that can only be done during the week - my own finances, chores and errands. I know that sounds bad, but I would have 3 days to divide up and allow time to shop during the week with less crowds, visit my family, take a three day weekend - the oppportunities are endless!

41. KellyW43March 1,2022 at 3:33AM UTC

    Before the pandemic, I had a position that required 3-12hrs days. I loved it. I was able to get some rest and get all of my errands ran and my house was clean.

    I even worked overtime sometimes.

    I would do the schedule again in a heartbeat! 6am-6pm.

42. JaNeene SandersMarch 1,2022 at 1:37PM UTC

    I have a four day work week. I use my extra day for traveling (I don't need to use vacay time for that day) and when I am not traveling, I use it to run errands and get my house in order for the upcoming week.

43. AnonymousMarch 1,2022 at 1:51PM UTC

    Animal rescue. Transporting, vetting, and home checks are time consuming. I had to give that up when I left a job where I had every other Friday off.

44. Sarah HernandezMarch 1,2022 at 2:06PM UTC

    Cleaning and travel (meaning getting to a destination). I could use that day to prep the house and do the actual travel to have more time at the destination with my family and focus on my little one.

45. AnonymousMarch 1,2022 at 3:09PM UTC

    Is the 4 week 8 hours of 10 hrs. Not sure I can do 4 10 hour days. Would catch up on things like working out traveling, waking hiking, organizing etc

46. surfnwriteMarch 1,2022 at 4:00PM UTC

    I focus on things that are my reason for living.

47. Ronda AmillMarch 1,2022 at 4:34PM UTC

    I worked for a company that offered me a day off in lieu of a raise and I took it!! I had a 3 day weekend every week. It was the best ever. I allowed me to get my errands done on Friday and enjoy my weekend!! Where did it say we have to work 5 days a week all the time!!! I would take this in a heart beat anywhere...anytime!