Why a four-day work week could prove to be detrimental to employee stress levels?

The implementation of the four-day work week has been a topic of growing interest among companies, as it is perceived as a potential strategy to increase productivity and employee satisfaction. Recently, the Government of India has taken the initiative to formalise this concept by including it as a provision in the new labour laws. This provision allows companies to offer their employees the option of working four days per week, as an alternative to the standard five-day workweek. However, it is important to note that this policy stipulates increased daily working hours of 12 hours, as opposed to the conventional 8–9 hours.

In an ideal world, fewer days in the office should translate to happier, more productive employees. The concept of an extra day to detach, rejuvenate and recharge sounds like a recipe for a golden workforce, which might be true to an extent. However, as with any change, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks before implementing such a policy. One area of concern is the potential for increased stress levels among employees.

Read More