The Surprising Reasons Arizona Should Consider a 4-Day Work Week

• Working four ten-hour days instead of the traditional five eight-hour days could improve work/life balance in Arizona
• Studies show four ten-hour days are better for the environment
• Production rises with fewer workdays

Arizona Considers Moving Away from a Traditional Work Week

Nothing opened our eyes wider than the pandemic. The global shutdown had us scrambling for alternative ways to keep working and going to school. The intersection of technology paired up with necessity, and a new way of working was born.

READ: The Top 5 Most In-Demand Jobs in Arizona

Telecommuting became the norm as many workers discovered this way of conducting business was a better fit for their lifestyle. With more flexible hours and zero time spent commuting, most of us found more time for our family and personal life.

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Since a seismic shift in the way we work is already well underway, it's time to take a look at the way we put in our time at work.

Four Reasons Arizona Should Consider a Four-Day Workweek

With more people enjoying the flexibility of working from home, it's time for businesses to consider another bold shift: embracing the four-day workweek.

Here’s why:

1. Stress is Reduced, and Mental Health Goes Up:

   • Research by the World Economic Forum shows that shorter workweeks reduce worker stress, which leads to better mental health for employees. With a little more continuous downtime, employees return to work feeling refreshed and ready to take on challenges.

2. Productivity Rises:

   • This may seem counterintuitive, but it actually makes sense. When employees work fewer hours, they focus on essential tasks and engage in fewer time-wasting activities.
   • A company called Exos began piloting a four-day workweek. After the six-month trial run, employees reported being happier and more productive. The company intends to continue this work model and advocates for other companies to consider doing the same.

3. Reduced Environmental Impact:

   • Fewer commuting days mean reduced carbon emissions. Studies have shown that commuting one day less every week could cut carbon emissions by 20%! Imagine fewer cars wasting fuel while sitting in traffic on I-10.

4. Attracting Talent:

   • A shorter workweek is one more way Arizona could attract talent to our state.
   • With a shorter work-week statewide, talented professionals may likely see Arizona as a better place to live and work.

It's time to rethink the grind in Arizona. A four-day workweek could change how we live and work and make us all happier. What do you think? Would you prefer working like this over the current 5-day workweek?

Sources: Harvard Business Review | CNBC | World Economic Forum | CNBC | Environmental Energy Leader | NPR