Expert explains why ‘a four-day work week would cause more burnout’

Sophie Collins

An expert has said shortening the work week could actually cause more burnout for employees

This comes after a study found that 70% of Irish professionals admitted that the current standard of a five-day week doesn’t suit them anymore.

More than half of the people surveyed said that if the week was shortened, they believe that productivity would be boosted and 36% said having more flexibility would also have a positive impact.

However, one expert has said it’s not that simple and the positive impacts may not be as expected.

Peter Cosgrave, Managing Director of Futurewise, spoke to Newstalk this week and said that people must not forget that the same level of work still needs to be delivered – in a shorter amount of time.

“The work week has changed massively in terms of post-Covid in terms of how we work, but the key thing is offices still need to be open for all the times we as consumers expect them to be open.

“Maybe the difference is people don’t need to be working exactly the same way.

“We still have to do the work but how we do it, that can be changing and where we work.

“So the ‘how’ and the ‘where’ has changed but the work still needs to be done.”

Explaining how a four-day week could bring about more burnout among workers, Mr. Cosgrave said:

“I struggle with the concept of it because I actually think it’s slightly retrograde.

“If we’re flexible then we can work as long as we want as long as the work’s done.

“Four days is about trying to get all your work done in four days instead of five – I don’t know how you don’t create more burnout and stress if you’re trying to squeeze everything into four days.”

The concept that would allow the four day week to work is known as the 100-80-100 concept, and it backs up Cosgrave’s fears.

It means that workers would continue to receive 100% of their agreed pay while only working 80% of their usual hours, but 100% of the same deliverables are still expected of them.

It’s similar to the post-Covid trend of working from home. Most companies have allowed their employees to continue working from home full time while others have dedicated office days.

However, as time has gone on, companies are starting to phase back in the idea of working from the office five days a week due to some backlash.

Speaking about this, Mr. Cosgrave said: “Part of this is still old school employers who just want to see their staff, which is nonsense.

“If they’re doing a good job, you don’t really need to see them but there is a longer-term issue here, which is all around transversal skills like presenting, influencing, networking and managing.”

What are your thoughts on the concept of a four day week where the same level of output is expected? Let us know over on social media.