As an account service associate at Iron Ridge Insurance Associates, Darius Banfield knows that most of his workday will be spent handling certificates and renewals for the agency. But Banfield also knows that, like most of his co-workers, he’ll only have to work four days each week.
“With the four-day workweek … I feel like I’m more productive. I feel like I get things done quicker, and I’m happier in life and I’m happy at work. That’s going to also make the work better,” Banfield says. “For me, finding that positive work-life balance was something that I didn’t really realize that you could do. Now that I’m doing it, I feel like it would be so hard to wire my brain back to doing the five-day workweek.”
For many employers, the desire to provide employees with greater work-life balance has been driving a trend toward shorter workweeks and more flexible scheduling policies. Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all schedule policy for four-day workweeks, since no two businesses are identical. And as Naples Airport Authority Human Resources Director Risa Zadorecky notes, flexible scheduling isn’t always as simple as it sounds.
“Every one of our areas has different scheduling needs. We actually have a variety of scheduling arrangements with people depending on the department. So in some parts of the airport, we have employees who are able to work four days a week all year round and … some actually only have that flexibility during the summer,” Zadorecky says. “It definitely adds to (scheduling) complexity. As each new situation comes up you weigh it out, determine the best way forward and you keep moving because people really appreciate this benefit. It’s worth the time to figure it out.”
While the desire for shorter workweeks predated COVID-19, more workers have sought greater work-life balance since the pandemic. However, just as every business is different, every worker has a different lifestyle, as well. So, even if a company can’t offer a shorter workweek or flexible schedule, human resources professionals say employers can still attract employees simply by paying more attention to their needs.
“People keep talking about a work-life balance. But the truth of the matter is, there is no such thing as work-life balance. It’s a work-life integration,” says Karen Shepherd, owner of HR by Karen in Naples. “You have to look at the big picture and business owners and leadership need to understand what’s important to their employees after five o’clock. What I feel is more important is to make sure, when you’re leading your employees, that you’re leading with compassion, empathy and heart.”
While most employers that have adopted shortened workweeks have seen positive results, there are ultimately some businesses and jobs that may always need to be five days a week. For those employers, Shepherd recommends finding additional ways to be flexible and accommodating.
“There are so many industries that are just a five-day workweek, Monday through Friday, and I don’t know if we’re ever going to get away completely from that. With technology now, there are so many ways that an employer can be accommodating, even with their policies.” Shepherd says. “Again, it’s finding out what’s important to your employee. For instance, if a four-day workweek is important to an employee and they want to work 10-hour days, make that accommodation. However, not just for one employee, but for all employees. The important thing is to be communicative and consistent. Those are the critical pieces here.”
Finally, in an age of worker shortages and debates over work-from-home versus office work, offering a shortened workweek or flexible scheduling options can serve as a perk to attract more job applicants. And for employees who appreciate the benefits of a shorter workweek, jobs requiring a traditional five-day workweek may no longer hold appeal.
“When I applied (with Iron Ridge) and found out that it was a four-day work week, I thought, ‘How is this gonna work? Are those four days going to be … super stressful, with a lot of anxieties and I’m going to be micromanaged?’” Banfield says. “In my past five-day workweek, I couldn’t find a really positive work-life balance. (A four-day workweek ) wasn’t something that I knew I wanted or needed. But, now that I have it, I can’t go back.”
