Exploring the four-day work week

WRAL reporter Mandy Mitchell explores the concept of a four-day work week as the coronavirus pandemic has challenged the foundations of working.
Posted 6/12/2020, 11:00:00 PM

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ONLINE.

>>> ONE BIG CHANGE COMPANIES

COULD BE CONSIDERING IN THE

FUTURE IS TRANSITIONING TO A

FOUR DAY WORKWEEK.

SHORTER WOKE WEEKS HAVE BEEN

SHOWN TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY

AND CAN HELP WITH WORK LIFE

BALANCE.

WE SPOKE WITH A LOCAL EXPERT WHO

SAID IT IS A CONVERSATION

BUSINESS LEADERS SHOULD BE

HAVING.

>>> I THINK THIS COVID

ENVIRONMENT IS GOING TO REVEAL

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE

CONSIDERATION OF THE FOUR DAY

WORKWEEK.

>> BARBARA LIVES IN THE TRIANGLE

AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH

COMPANIES TO INCREASE

PRODUCTIVITY FROM FOR MORE THAN

FOUR DECADES.

SHE USUALLY HELPS LEADERS

ELIMINATE CLUTTERING.

>> TIBL 40 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN

THIS HAS PREPARED ME FOR THIS

VERY MOMENT IN HISTORY.

BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE SAY -- COVID

IS CAUSING THIS.

I THINK ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT

IT IS COVID IS REVEALING THIS.

>> SHE SAID THE PANDEMIC IS

REVEALING HOW MUCH TIME WE WASTE

AT WORK.

WORKING FROM HOME IS PROVING TO

BE EFFECTIVE AND SHE THINKS

WORKING FEWER DAYS COULD BE TOO.

FORCING EMPLOYEES TO GET STUFF

DONE INSTEAD OF COUNTING THE

HOURS UNTIL THE WEEKEND.

>> THE OLD LAW WORK EXPANDS TO

FILL TIME.

>> RECENT STUDIES HAVE PROVE

THEN.

WORKERS AT MICROSOFT SHOWED A

40% BOOST IN PRODUCTIVITY WHEN

WORKING A FOUR DAY WEEK.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BURGER CHAIN

SHAKE SHACK SWITCHED TO A FOUR

DAY WORKWEEK FOR ITS MANAGERS.

THEY SAY IT HAS HELPED WITH

RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENT.

>> WHAT COVID IS REVEALING IS

THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE

WERE DOING AREN'T REALLY WORKING

ALL THAT WELL.

>> WHO WOULDN'T WORK A LITTLE

HARDER FOR PERMANENT THREE DAY