Workers want a four-day workweek more than remote options, survey finds

A four-day workweek is more popular than remote or hybrid work options, according to a recent survey of full-time workers published by Bankrate.

The survey of more than 2,300 US adults found 81% of respondents “strongly support” or “somewhat support” a four-day workweek, compared to 68% who support hybrid work, and 64% who support fully remote work.

Workers surveyed also expressed a willingness to make certain sacrifices in order to have a four-day workweek. More than half (54%) said they’d be willing to clock longer hours during those four days, while 37% said they’d be open to changing jobs, companies, or industries.

What workers want. The findings indicate employees are likely to push for a four-day workweek in the future, Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst with Bankrate, told HR Brew.

In recent years more organizations and governments have started trying out the four-day workweek, with many signing on to a pilot program called 4-Day Week Global. As part of the program, employees are asked to work a four-day, 32-hour workweek with no reduction in pay. The initial results of these trials have been positive: A 2022 survey of 27 participating companies found the majority (93%) planned to continue, while one firm was leaning toward continuing and one was undecided.

A separate survey conducted by Bloomberg from August 7 to 11 found investors expect the four-day workweek to outpace sabbaticals and unlimited PTO as a much-desired workplace benefit in the future, with 55% predicting it will gain the most traction.

What employers can offer. Still, four-day weeks don’t work for every organization, and employers’ ability to adopt the scheme will depend in part on how it aligns with their revenue goals, Hamrick said.

While leisure and hospitality employers may not be able to offer remote work, for example, they can consider reducing employees’ hours of service in response to certain consumer trends—such as diners eating earlier—and in turn give staff the option to work fewer days. The scheme has also proved amenable to the healthcare sector, though typically these workers take on longer shifts.

No matter the industry, it seems likely that the option to work four days a week will be one lever HR departments may pull to attract talent in the future. When companies can’t match competitors on compensation, flexibility is increasingly seen as another way to poach talent.

“I don’t know that I would predict there will be a sea change,” Hamrick said of four-day workweek adoption. “But I would say that it’s absolutely something to watch.”