Bernie Sanders says that 'it's time' for a four-day workweek in the US -- with no loss of pay.

[Uncle Joe]

Here's why it's not such a crazy idea for companies to try

(snip)

It might seem like pie-in-the-sky thinking, but Sanders cited the increased use of technology and artificial intelligence, which in his view, has only benefited members of the C-suite. And there’s some precedent for the idea.

Sanders’ statement came on the heels of a story in the Washington Post about the largest pilot study yet of a four-day work week. More than 3,000 employees participated — and 15% have since stated that “no amount of money” could convince them to go back to a five-day workweek.

(snip)

The 61 companies involved in the six-month study found a number of benefits. Employees spoke of their improved stress hardiness, mental health and even sleep. Meanwhile, company revenue actually jumped 35% on average year over year; Tyler Grange, a U.K.-based environmental consultancy, enjoyed a 22% leap in productivity.

What’s more, turnover and resignations dropped. The shorter week even helped with hiring. Tyler Grange saw job applications skyrocket by 88% and absenteeism shrink by 66%. Of all 61 companies, just three decided they wouldn’t move forward with a four-day workweek, or just 5%.

(snip)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bernie-sanders-says-time-four-130000409.html

[ChazInAz]

1. Bernie's right.

Though I'm sure it will never happen.
One of the reasons I retired early eleven years ago had to do with my employer's scheme to institute a four day work week, without actually doing anything for the workers. This was in the "right to work" state of Arizona at one of Tucson's largest hospitals. We'd been through a traumatic period featuring a series of revolving-door CEOs, developing a fat accretion layer of vice-presidents and an unending series of layoffs as the place tried to shrink itself to profitability as it simultaneously expanded. (In its charter, it was described as a nonprofit community hospital. Go figure.) I was a dispatcher in Transportation in theory. In actuality I was chiefly the concierge for the entire establishment. The department had become an amalgam of transport, security, housekeeping, plant services, and hospitality: when anyone, anywhere needed anything done...I arranged it. On the books, there were four of us dispatchers at a time. In reality, it was just me due to chronic absenteeism and the fact that my fellows had to go out on the floor to transport people and materiel, due to layoffs of transport personnel.
Into this merry mess came SixSigma.
Their brilliant conclusion was that a four day week would really improve staff morale. Three days off, scattered randomly through the week would be just the thing for the overworked, pissed off staff. Of course, since the hospital couldn't afford to hire more people, we'd all be working ten hour days. Since I was already working nine hours without a break or overtime, I knew this would mean eleven or more hours at the grind. Most days, I wanted to leave after four hours!
That was my cue to take early retirement. The department limped along without me for a while, until they realized that they needed four dispatchers on duty all the time to take my place. The ten-hour day died an inglorious death.