In the era of the 4-day week, everything revolves around achieving more in less time. But how can we make the most of these reduced working hours? Self-organization plays a key role in unleashing full productivity despite reduced hours. The question also arises as to whether face-to-face or virtual meetings are more efficient and of higher quality in a 4-day week.

The 4-day week: How less can lead to more

The idea of a shortened working week has gained attention in recent years. At first glance, the 4-day week, a concept designed to accommodate a full workload in just four days, seems almost impossible. In a traditional 40-hour week, working hours would be reduced to 32 hours. Wouldn't that just lead to more overtime? Not necessarily, because reality shows that less time does not necessarily mean less performance - on the contrary, it can lead to an increase in productivity and well-being. This is where the question of the relationship between quantity and quality comes to the fore. Should productivity be measured solely by the quantity of work done or is the quality of the results more important? This debate opens the door to new approaches to evaluating success and performance in the world of work. It is important to note that the quality of work must not suffer as a result of the introduction of a 4-day week.

Why can the 4-day week increase productivity?

By introducing the 4-day week, productivity can have the following effects on the employee:

• Increased motivation and morale: When employees know they have a shortened work week, they are often more motivated to complete their tasks more efficiently in order to be productive within that shorter time.
• Work focus: Limiting workdays to four can lead to employees working more effectively by focusing on their priorities and minimizing distractions.
• Work-life balance: A better work-life balance can increase employee satisfaction and well-being. This could lead to them being more focused and engaged during their working days.
• Reducing fatigue and burnout: Shorter working weeks can help prevent fatigue and burnout, which can increase productivity in the long term. Well-rested employees are often more efficient and creative in their work.
• Promoting efficiency and prioritization: The reduced time can encourage employees to rethink inefficient ways of working and focus on the really important tasks.

However, it is important to emphasize that the effectiveness of a four-day week depends heavily on the type of work and the work culture in a company. It is not necessarily a universal model that works in every industry or for every type of work. It requires careful planning, clear goals and possibly adjustments in the way of working to increase productivity while meeting demands.

Where could employers reduce the workload?

In relation to the 4-day week, employers could reduce in various ways:

• Time management and prioritization: Employers could encourage employees to use their working time more efficiently by setting clear priorities and optimizing less important tasks. This can help to integrate the workload into the shortened week.
• Flexible working hours: Within the 4-day week, flexible working hours could be introduced, allowing employees to spread their hours over the remaining four days. This can help to manage the workload by better distributing working time to the most productive times of the day.
• Automation and process optimization: Investing in automation and optimizing processes can help reduce time-consuming tasks.
• Prepare and schedule meetings: When it comes to meetings, care should also be taken to ensure that they are well planned and framed in terms of time when reducing the workload. Depending on the time required, it should be possible to hold meetings virtually or in person. Likewise, only those people should be invited to a meeting who can make a productive contribution to the specific topics.

Self-organization as the key to success

Achieving the same or even more in a shorter working time requires a fundamental overhaul of the way you work. Self-organization plays a crucial role in this. Effective time planning, clear objectives and a focus on the most important tasks are essential to achieve the same or even higher productivity in fewer hours. Employees and companies alike need to adapt to this new dynamic and develop efficient methods for self-organization.

Advantages and challenges of the 4-day week

The introduction of the 4-day week has advantages and challenges for both the company and its employees.   

Advantages for the company  

• Increased productivity: Possible increase in efficiency as employees make better use of their time.   
• Improved employee retention: Increased satisfaction can lead to greater commitment and loyalty.   

Challenges for the company   

• Workload management: Difficulty completing the same workload in fewer hours.  
• Service continuity: Potential difficulties in maintaining continuous service hours.   

Benefits for employees   

• Work-life balance: More free time for personal interests and family   
• Increased satisfaction: Shorter working week can lead to increased satisfaction.   

Challenges for employees  

• Adjustment to new work structure: May require time and adjustment  
• Potential financial impact: Reduced work hours could impact salary.    

A thorough consideration of these points is crucial in order to understand and evaluate the impact of the 4-day week for companies and employees and perhaps adopt it into your own working structures in the future. 

The future of the world of work

The 4-day week is symbolic of a progressive and adaptable working culture. It forces us to rethink traditional ways of working and find more innovative, efficient solutions. It challenges you, whether you are an employee or an employer, to question yourself and your working methods in order to make the best use of your limited time. These changes in the world of work could not only lead to an improved work-life balance, but also contribute to a significant increase in employee productivity and satisfaction. The 4-day week therefore not only marks a change in the structure of time, but also a mental step towards a more modern and effective working environment.