Four-Day Work Week May Be Offshoot of UAW Strike

So, you may not be one of the 146,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) out on strike right now. You may not even live close to an automobile plant. You may not think the industry and its employees have any impact on your life. Well, you might be wrong.

The auto industry pumps over $1 trillion into the American economy each year through sales, service, and parts, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. That amounts to jobs and money flowing to local economies across the nation.

In addition, changes for autoworkers often lead to changes for employees in other fields. Since the UAW is seeking a four-day workweek, you might see a shorter workweek in the future. 

Auto Industry Began 40-Hour Work Week

In the first quarter of the 20th century, workers labored six days a week totaling fifty to 78 hours a week. In 1926, Henry Ford instituted the 40-hour work week over five days.

As the UAW grew and gained more political clout, worker’s hours across the board began to shrink.

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 cut the work week for laborers to 44 hours. Two years later the law was amended to make the 40-hour week the new standard.

Four-Day Work Week Trend

A June survey by ResumeBuilder.com found that 20 percent of companies surveyed already have a four-day workweek. In addition, 41 percent plan to implement such a program. 

Of the businesses planning a four-day work week, half say the change will take place by year’s end. Another 42 percent are targeting 2024 and the remaining eight percent say they will transition in 2025.

State and Federal Governments

Several countries have opened up to the idea of a four-day workweek.

The largest trial run of the four-day work week occurred last year in Great Britain. Over 3,000 employees in 60-plus companies took part. After the six-month program ended, all but five businesses decided to keep the plan in place.  

California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington state have all entertained bills to encourage or require four-day work weeks. However, none have become law yet. Other states, such as Missouri and Texas, have adopted four-day work weeks in select school districts.

In addition, members of Congress, such as Representative Mark Tenako (D-CA) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have championed the four-day workweek. 

Are You A Good Fit 

A four-day workweek may sound good, but it is not right for everyone. Certain jobs, for instance, lend themselves better to a four-day workweek than others. 

In addition, certain personality traits match well with a reduced work week.

“We seek job candidates that can prioritize and de-prioritize, who can recognize what is essential and what is not, and who are self-directed to manage their time,” Banks Benitez, co-founder of Uncharted, told CNBC. His comments came after his company adopted a four-day work week last summer.

How to Get a Four-Day Work Week

Just as there are two versions of the four-day work week (four eight-hour days or four 10-hour days) – there are two ways to get a job with a shortened work week.

You may be able to negotiate with your employer to get what you want.

Here are some suggestions about how to approach your boss to ask for a four-day week:

• Prepare.  Do a little research on how a four-day workweek has helped other companies and employees. For instance, you could cite information on increased productivity and other benefits.
• Get Your Timing Right.  Approach your boss when he/she is most receptive such as after a successful task. 
• Put the Company First.  The benefits of extra time off for you are obvious.  Therefore, your proposal should show that you have thought about the company and how your idea helps it.
• Have a Plan.  One of the first things your employer will want to know is how you will get your job done in less time. Here you can suggest a 10-hour day or commit to staying late when you need to complete a high-priority task.
• Define Fifth Day Access.  You may not want to talk about your availability on off days until you get positive feedback on a reduced work week. However, it is important to determine guidelines for accessibility on the fifth day of the week. Will you be available for phone calls, texts, emails, or special meetings? 

Finding Four-Day Work Week Jobs

If you can not reach an agreement with your boss on a new schedule, you may have to go job hunting.

More four-day jobs are being created.  As a result, there are even job boards that specialize in four-day-a-week jobs, such as 4 Day Week. In addition, you can use the old standbys for online job searches including Indeed and FlexJobs.

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Max Erkiletian

Max K. Erkiletian began writing for newspapers while still in high school. He went on to become an award-winning journalist and co-founder of the print magazine Free Bird. He has written for a wide range of regional and national publications as well as many on-line publications. That has afforded him the opportunity to interview a variety of prominent figures from former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank Paul Volker to Blues musicians Muddy Waters and B. B. King. Max lives in Springfield, MO with his wife Karen and their cat – Pudge. He spends as much time as possible with his kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.