Is a four hour work week feasable?

[ABOTadmin]

We've all heard of the four day work week, but most companies are yet to have an alternative work schedule system in place.

Groovy Green has a detailed article on the benefits of a four day work week. Among the benefits mentioned are:

-Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants
-Less traffic congestion
-Increase productivity
-More time with the family

I think the only thing holding us back is the fear that productivity will drop, which isn't true, as it's not dependent on the time you spend at work. Come to think of it, a work from home program would be even better, but I think that's crossing the line already.

[Tephus]

Nah. I think working too little will cause us to slip. We all know how hard it is to come back to work on Mondays, imagine if you've had three days off. It'll be even harder.

I do however agree that productivity isn't dependant on the amout of time you spend at the office, but how quick and smart you work.

[Niche]

Business is business. No one is going to leave a profitable business without investing a significant amount of time on it. The risk of loss is too high

[Vintage]

as more and more offices adopt a results oriented work environment, working from home is becoming a reality for more and more people. it's tempting to sit around and watch tv, but with some discipline, it will greatly boost productivity. also, because it's results oriented, shirkers won't last long.

[David Tan]

Lets jump to the other spectrum... China. There's workers working under a street lamp manufacturing shoes and stuff late at night. 4 days? China's gonna celebrate when their competitors implement high cost policies like this.

5 days - normal productivity
6 days - higher productivity
4 days efficient policy - higher productivity
7 days China Policy - MEGA HYPER PRODUCTIVITY

Work from Home? That's India's department in achieving MEGA HYPER PRODUCTIVITY policies.

[jennihsurf]

I guess at the end of the day it all comes back to the nature of the job. I don't suppose a manufacturing industry would need a 7 day job. And for the marketing industry, a 4 day job is more than enough to reach and get clients. As for a media related job, it's a 7 day job and therefore they have employee rotations.

More about how smart the employers hire manpowers for the workload to increase or maintain productivity, rather than an x-day job. IMHO.

[Tephus]

I second what vintage said. The ROWE system makes perfect sense, but it'll take some dicipline.

[David Tan]

Only when employers and employees's goals are in the same direction. Or possibly make it a 'reward' for top performing employees by giving them greater time flexibility since they've proven to be able to manage their time well.

[fred333]

I think it depends on the type fo work that is being done and of what quality.

[saltydog]

Ok I know I am new here but just had to add to this post,
A wise man once said ' You never get rich working for someone else"

Being an affiliate marketer or webmaster has to be one of the best jobs ever. 4 day work week HAH, try 4 days a month and still make 5 figures a month.

If you’re going to do this job be passionate about it; as anything in life.

I have been a webmaster for about 5 years and it has been a hard run.. You think of ideas throw them out on the net and see how the do. I have to say that it is just like fishing once you have casted enough sooner or later you will reel in that fish. Took me almost 4 years and close t0 60 websites before I landed that big fish. I now have 6 employees and a dedicated office all just to do 100% affiliate marketing.

I hope I am not sounding like a MLM kind of guy. Just if you stick with this and put your whole focus on it, it can work for you.

My main advice to be successful build partnerships with other webmasters. Target your sponsors for your content. Keep trying till you find the right niche for you.
cheers

[Ronald Marva]

Its a matter of how flexible is your business to the 4-day work week. Environmentally this is a sound idea. But business-wise, competitiveness necessitates a 24/7 service readiness.
If you can find a compromise between a limited working days and responding to the demands of your business, well and good.