The success of a UK pilot program could determine whether a four-day workweek could be implemented in the US. Right now, thousands of employees are testing the 100-80-100 principle in real time, which means employees are receiving 100% of their pay for 80% of their traditional time while maintaining 100% productivity. Other regions where the theory has been tested have been successful, but this is the largest scale experiment of its type so far. So, could the US embrace the four-day workweek? While a California bill that would require organizations with 500 or more employees to pay the same for 32 hours of work that they would for 40 has not advanced, it’s not dead yet and demonstrates lawmakers’ progressive thinking about Americans’ work-life balance. Some, however, worry that truncating the workweek will negatively impact productivity, and by extension, make American workers less competitive globally. That said, studies have shown that overworked workers are actually less productive than counterparts with a healthier balance.
The Buzz
