{"id":5390,"date":"2023-05-19T05:30:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T05:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/?p=5390"},"modified":"2023-05-19T05:30:08","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T05:30:08","slug":"how-4-day-workweeks-could-be-the-answer-to-job-burnout-and-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/how-4-day-workweeks-could-be-the-answer-to-job-burnout-and-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"How 4-Day Workweeks Could Be The Answer To Job Burnout And Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There have been numerous proposals by different companies talking about four-day work weeks rather than the traditional five. In fact, many wonder if endless complaints about burnout and high-level stress could be solved by simply removing a single day from the usual workweek.<\/p>\n

In a new study that came out of the United Kingdom, which is considered the biggest trial done of a 4-day, 32-hour workweek, the answer is undoubtedly a huge yes.<\/p>\n

As compared to the way they felt at the start of their six-month trial, British employees that participated in the study reported that they had reduced levels of burnout and stress<\/a> when they were given an additional weekend day. Although the results are not surprising, to say the least, employers also shared that they noticed a number of benefits, such as the majority of them reaching their productivity targets, and how their company revenue managed to go up slightly, by roughly 1.4 percent.<\/p>\n

Sociology professor at the University of Cambridge<\/a> and co-author of the study, Brendan Burchell, PhD<\/a>, explained that the buy-in from the participating companies \u2018was an important indicator that this model works.\u2019 He said, \u201cThe vast majority \u2014 92 percent of the 61 organizations included in the study \u2014 said they were going to stick to a four-day workweek even after the study period ended, with 18 companies making the policy permanent.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Over 50 Million People Quit Their Jobs in 2022<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Statistics show that in 2022, over 50 million people quit their jobs. In fact, according to Microsoft\u2019s 2022 Work Trend Index<\/a>, \u201948 percent of employees and 53 percent of managers say they are burned out at work.\u2019<\/p>\n

In fact, the Harvard Business Review<\/a> shares that searches on Google for \u201cburnout symptoms\u201d over the last year were at an all-time high.<\/p>\n

CNBC News<\/a> also reported that there was also an unprecedented number of people that chose to quit their jobs, which is why it was called \u201cthe Great Resignation\u201d where there was an estimated 50.5 million people that left their jobs.<\/p>\n

But what exactly causes burnout? It\u2019s actually a combination of many different things. According to Mayo Clinic<\/a>, some of these factors include a lack of control over your schedule, a heavy workload and long hours, and work-life imbalance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Moreover, although most people complain about the adverse effects of burnout being mental and emotional, some also explain that unaddressed job burnout<\/a> also contributes to insomnia, alcohol and substance misuse<\/a>, high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n

As per Alex Soojung-Kim Pang<\/a>, PhD, who also happens to be the global programs and development manager at 4 Day Week Global \u2013 the nonprofit that worked to design this pilot study \u2013 says that fewer hours of work each can help deal with burnout and stress since it gives people more time to rest.<\/p>\n

Dr. Soojung-Kim Pang says, \u201cA four-day week gives people more time for recovery, lets them sleep longer, decreases work-life interference, and creates more space for hobbies and healthy habits. And because four-day week companies tend to be good at enforcing work-life boundaries, you’re less likely to have to answer emails or check your phone in your time off, which further improves recovery.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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A Shorter Workweek Equals Less Burnout and Stress <\/strong><\/h3>\n

There were 61 companies that participated in the UK study, and all of them agreed to reduce hours by 20 percent, without cutting the wages of their workers, for a six-month period of the trial, which was between June 2022 to the end of the year. Most of these companies also had the same set of productivity goals in place as when their employees were working 40 hours a week.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the highlights they had from the study:<\/p>\n