The four-day workweek is increasingly viewed as a beneficial model for both employees and companies, driven by a desire to improve work-life balance, reduce burnout, and boost productivity. Workers overwhelmingly favor the idea, with surveys showing that a majority, especially younger generations like millennials and Gen Z, rank a shorter workweek among their top workplace priorities. This shift is partly a response to rising workplace anxiety and burnout, which have reached record levels, and evolving expectations around flexibility and well-being following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Companies experimenting with a four-day workweek report positive outcomes such as increased employee satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, and often even improved productivity and revenue. Various models exist, including maintaining a 40-hour week over four 10-hour days or reducing total hours to 32 per week while keeping pay unchanged. Trials in countries like New Zealand, the UK, and Australia have shown promising results, with many organizations choosing to continue the practice rather than revert to the traditional five-day schedule.
Research led by economist Juliet B. Schor, involving 245 organizations and thousands of employees, confirms that the four-day workweek can be a viable and sustainable approach across different industries and work settings. Her findings highlight consistent benefits in employee well-being and productivity, with minimal increases in work intensity. The movement is employer-driven and aligns with technological advancements such as AI, which encourage more flexible and efficient work models.
Overall, adopting a four-day workweek is not just about giving workers an extra day off but about rethinking how work is organized to create a more efficient, sustainable, and balanced environment for everyone. This approach addresses modern workforce demands and could reshape the future of work by improving employee retention, morale, and performance while supporting business goals.
For many years, the fastest-growing U.S. cities were in the Sun Belt, drawing retirees with their warm weather and affordable living. However, a recent study by moving company Hire A Helper reveals that the landscape is shifting.
By examining migration patterns, job growth, and income changes from 2018 to 2023 across numerous metropolitan areas, the study pinpointed where growth is not only happening but speeding up. The result is a fresh ranking of America’s new boomtowns—cities that are attracting newcomers, expanding their economies, and seeing incomes rise more quickly than the national average.
While familiar big cities continue to do well, the research highlights a surge in smaller metro areas quietly transforming the country’s demographic and economic map. These up-and-coming boomtowns are drawing attention for their affordable housing, robust job markets, and higher quality of life.