"Like pandemic-era fixations we thought would last forever - looking at you, sourdough starter - the dream of working 32 hours a week for 40 hours' pay seemed within reach for some. Now, years later, hiring is sluggish, CEOs are demanding that workers lock in, and 9-9-6 memes can feel as pervasive as 6-7 mishegoss. The chill settling over the workplace means that many workers' hopes for four-day weeks are on ice - for now."
"In some ways, ideas like 9-9-6 - slogging from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week - are a response to the four-day workweek, Schor said. That's even though trials from the UK to New Zealand run by Schor and other researchers have indicated that spending less time on the job can leave workers happier and less burned out - without compromising productivity."
Momentum for a broad four-day, 32-hour workweek has cooled as hiring slows and many CEOs push return-to-office orders and longer hours. Executives often emphasize hustle and greater in-office presence to reassure boards and investors about productivity. Management pushback has trimmed pandemic-era gains for workers even as trials in the UK and New Zealand show reduced hours can increase wellbeing without harming productivity. Advocates and researchers maintain the shorter workweek remains viable, but broader adoption will likely be slower given current employer priorities and technological focus.
Read at Business Insider
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