This seems like a policy with clear mental health benefits.
Working fewer hours per week will surely make the nation less stressed and ultimately more productive, one might think.
That’s the argument being made by Bernie Sanders, a self-described “democratic socialist,” who is gaining support for his bill.This would force companies to offer a four-day work week.
The bill, which has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, would improve the mental well-being of workers across the country.
This will “enable Americans to enjoy a better quality of life,” Senator Sanders said at a recent hearing.
Experts told DailyMail.com there are several reasons why a four-day working week could cause problems for countries’ mental health.
However, scientists are increasingly concerned that, contrary to popular thinking, this type of decision could actually prove detrimental to the mental health of American workers.
“The truth is that this attractive idea presents problems that tend to be ignored by enthusiasts,” wrote Abigail Marks, a professor at Newcastle University Business School in the United Kingdom who studies the future of work. the conversation.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Marks said a 32-hour working week under our current systems “wouldn’t work”.
“People would be more stressed because of the hours they are putting in, and then they would have to take work home to compensate.”
“I’m very supportive of anyone working fewer hours, but I think the reality is going to be very difficult.”
A series of recent studies suggest that added stress and burnout could be significant risks of a four-day work week.
In 2021, experts from the University of Auckland in New Zealand studied 45 employees of a medium-sized company who initiated a four-day work week.
They found that for many workers, the 32-hour week was a more stressful work environment.
Indeed, for many employees, their workload did not decrease, they simply had less time to accomplish it. Company leaders observed that their employees were “trying to put in 100 percent to 80 percent” of their time.
Another harm revealed in the study was a reduction in interactions with peers and colleagues, with employees struggling to complete their tasks in fewer days.
Daily interactions can provide essential social support for workers. THE US Centers for Disease ControlI link a feeling of social connectedness in the workplace to better sleep and an increased ability to recover from stress, anxiety, and depression.
“It’s really important for them to have coffee or chat with their colleagues,” Brendan Burchell, a sociologist at the University of Cambridge, told Wired.
Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced a four-day workweek bill, arguing it would benefit the mental well-being of millions of Americans.
Additionally, a June 2022 Gallup poll of 12,313 employees found that 34% of respondents who worked four days a week reported frequently feeling exhausted, compared to 29% of those who worked five days a week.
Respondents who worked four days a week felt more disconnected from their workplace.
In a recent blog by experts at Maryville University, researchers expressed concern that a shorter work week could mean companies won’t take the time to address other workplace issues .
“This may not work for all employees. Instead, research shows that employees are looking for flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
In a report During a six-month trial of the four-day working week in the UK, an anonymous worker at a craft brewery said the condensed schedule actually helped him.
Burnout is already a problem among American employees, with more than 40 percent reporting suffering from it, according to a study of 10,000 American and British workers.
“Being busy doesn’t make you stressed, it’s being out of control that makes you stressed…We want to be busier, less stressed,” he said.
However, the study only lasted six months and experts say more research is needed on the long-term effects.
Some researchers believe it would be more effective to adjust the length of shifts rather than the days of the week worked. Marks is one of those supporters.
“Without reducing the intensity of workloads and addressing burnout more broadly, a large-scale four-day week risks intensifying already intense workloads,” she said. told BBC.
“A six-hour workday may be more efficient than a four-day week among organizations that are capable of it.”