Not so long ago, people thought that a ten-hour, six-day week was normal; now, it’s the eight-hour, five-day week. Will that soon be history too? In this book, three leading experts argue why it should be. They map out a pragmatic pathway to a shorter working week that safeguards earnings for the lower-paid and keeps the economy flourishing. They argue that this radical vision will give workers time to be better parents and carers, allow men and women to share paid and unpaid work more equally, and help to save jobs – and create new ones – in the post-pandemic era. Not only that, but it will combat stress and illness caused by overwork and help to protect the environment. This is essential reading for anyone who has ever felt they could live and work a lot better if all weekends were three days long.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS 2021 In The 4 Day Week, entrepreneur and business innovator Andrew Barnes makes the case for the four-day work week as the answer to many of the ills of the 21st-century global economy. Barnes conducted an experiment in his own business, the New Zealand trust company Perpetual Guardian, and asked his staff to design a four-day week that would permit them to meet their existing productivity requirements on the same salary but with a 20% cut in work hours. The outcomes of this trial, which no business leader had previously attempted on these terms, were stunning. People were happier and healthier, more engaged in their personal lives, and more focused and productive in the office. The world of work has seen a dramatic shift in recent times: the former security and benefits associated with permanent employment are being displaced by the less stable gig economy. Barnes explains the dangers of a focus on flexibility at the expense of hard-won worker protections, and argues that with the four-day week, we can have the best of all worlds: optimal productivity, work-life balance, worker benefits and, at long last, a solution to pervasive economic inequities such as the gender pay gap and lack of diversity in business and governance. The 4 Day Week is a practical, how-to guide for business leaders and employees alike that is applicable to nearly every industry. Using qualitative and quantitative data from research gathered through the Perpetual Guardian trial and other sources by the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology, the book presents a step-by-step approach to preparing businesses for productivity-focused flexibility, from the necessary cultural conditions to the often complex legislative considerations. The story of Perpetual Guardian's unprecedented work experiment has made headlines around the world and stormed social media, reaching a global audience in more than seventy countries. A mix of trenchant analysis, personal observation and actionable advice, The 4 Day Week is an essential guide for leaders and workers seeking to make a change for the better in their work world.

This provocative book makes a compelling case for reducing the number of workdays in a week to four. Globalization has brought with it fiercer competition and greater worker mobility, and as organizations compete for top talent, they are becoming more open to unconventional worker arrangements, such as remote working and flextime. International business expert, Robert Grosse, draws on scholarly research to construct an appealing argument for why the four-day workweek benefits both the organization and the employee. Research has demonstrated that longer work hours harm the individual and don’t amount to a more effective organization, which begs the question: then why do it? The book goes beyond merely arguing that a reduced workweek is a good idea. It delves into why, explores the means for achieving it, and scrutinizes the barriers to getting there. This is a book for forward-thinking executives, leaders, and academics who understand that work–life balance is the secret sauce not only for organizational success, but also for greater productivity and satisfaction in their careers and those of the people they manage.

THE FIVE-DAY WORKING WEEK MUST CHANGE: HERE'S HOW. 'Fingers crossed that this book will shake up the five-day working week.' - Sir Christopher Pissarides, 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economics Friday is the New Saturday makes a compelling, provocative and timely case for societal change. Drawing on an eclectic range of economic theory, history and data, Dr Pedro Gomes argues that a four-day working week will bring about a powerful economic renewal for the benefit of all society. It will stimulate demand, productivity, innovation and wages, whilst reducing unemployment and crushing populist movements. The arguments come from both the left and right of the political spectrum to show that a polarised society can still find common ground. In the 1800s, people in the West worked six days each week, resting on Sundays. In the 1900s, firms began to give workers Saturdays off as well, realising that a two-day weekend helped the economy. In the 2000s, Friday will become the new Saturday, and we will never look back.

Offers techniques and strategies for increasing income while cutting work time in half, and includes advice for leading a more fulfilling life.

'The best guide to increasing your, and most other adults’, leisure time by 50%. With no serious downside' Professor Danny Dorling, University of Oxford Rising numbers of employers worldwide are switching to a four-day week, making workers happier and organisations stronger. Written by the director of the UK's 4 Day Week campaign, this easy-to-follow guide shows how businesses, charities, and councils can reap the benefits of introducing smarter working. It takes anyone considering modernising their hours through the current academic evidence for the benefits of introducing a four-day week – with no loss of pay. It then explains the various steps you should take to adopt this human resources hack. It tackles: The productivity improvements that flow from more energised and focused staff The typical challenges faced in running a trial, including part-time workers and bank holidays The different approaches to introducing a four-day week, such as staggered and fifth-day stoppage The 4 Day Week Handbook features case studies from the British economy, with breakouts on individual organisations. There are tips for improving the output of a business and a resources section with the essential information you need to start making progress, including a list of academics and researchers who may be able to help. As the leader of the 4 Day Week Campaign in the UK, Joe Ryle has years of practical experience working with organisations that have adopted more flexible working. Explaining why companies are changing, he recaps the changes to our working lives over time. At the turn of the 20th Century, workers routinely toiled for six days a week – until the Ford Motor Company invented the five-day working week, and the 'weekend'. Now, with longer commutes and more family members employed, the five-day working week no longer works for employers or employees. Stressed-out workers stagger home on a Friday evening and take the weekend to recover, while productivity stagnates. The 4 Day Week Handbook tracks the strong evidence that shortening working hours provides major benefits for the health and welfare of staff – and for employers. During a trial involving 2,900 workers at 61 organisations in the UK, sick days fell by 65% (improving productivity) and staff felt much more loyal to their bosses. Companies’ revenue stayed broadly the same, rising by 1.4% on average. The vast majority of employers who piloted a four-day week continued operating one after the trial ended. The 4 Day Week Handbook charts the many benefits of working smarter, not harder. Better work-life balance A four-day week with no loss of pay gives workers the time to live happier and more fulfilled lives, allowing for those non-work parts of life that are often neglected: rest – sleep and physical, mental, social, emotional and sensory rest parenting –reducing the use of paid childcare leisure – spending time with family and friends and pursuing hobbies and passions 'Life Admin' – shopping, cleaning, managing household finances A four-day week with no loss of pay lowers the financial and environmental costs of commuting. Higher performance and profits Real-world examples show that employers who move to a four-day week improve productivity and cut costs. In 2021, the Henley Business School estimated that UK businesses would save a combined £104 billion a year if all the UK worked a four-day week. Reducing the working week enables organisations to attract and retain high-quality employees who are happier and less stressed. More sustainable lifestyle More free time allows citizens to cycle and walk instead of driving and cook with fresh ingredients rather than buying energy-intensive ready meals. Research has shown that a four-day week could reduce the UK's carbon footprint by 127 million tonnes per year. That is the equivalent of taking Britain’s entire private car fleet of 27 million cars off the road. The business and human resources case for introducing a 4-day week at your office, shop or factory is clear. This succinct and practical book shows how to make the change. Reviews 'The four-day week is an idea whose time has come. This is an invaluable guide to its benefits but more importantly how to introduce it successfully. It’s a handbook to the future of work.' John McDonnell MP, former Shadow Chancellor 'Simple, effective, efficient. The best guide to increasing your, and most other adults’, leisure time by 50%. With no serious downside' Professor Danny Dorling, University of Oxford 'A must-read for anyone considering joining the four-day week revolution!' Claire Daniels, CEO of Trio Media 'A four-day working week is long overdue and this book provides a crucial roadmap. One day, we will look back in horror at the fact we worked until we dropped.' Owen Jones, Journalist

Since the early 1980s, Australian economic policy has been dominated by the ideology of neoliberalism (also known as ‘economic rationalism’), including policies of privatisation, financial deregulation and micro-economic reform. Throughout this period, John Quiggin has presented critical assessments of neoliberal policies and the claims about productivity growth made in support of those policies. The credibility of neoliberalism was fatally wounded by the Global Financial Crisis and its aftermath. Nevertheless, market ideology has lumbered on in zombie form, for want of a clear alternative. It is only recently that we have begun to reverse the failed policies of privatisation and deregulation and to consider radical alternatives such as a shift to a four-day week. This book provides a historical perspective in the form of a series of articles written from the mid-1980s to the present day. It concludes with some suggestions for the way forward, after neoliberalism. ‘John Quiggin is the intellectual equivalent of a dazzling fireworks display. I walk away from every encounter with a bright new insight, and this book is no exception. Agree or disagree, Professor Quiggin is a veritable trove of fresh insights. Spanning nearly four decades, this volume brings together some of Professor Quiggin’s most provocative contributions, driven by a deep commitment to equity. It will pique your curiosity and encourage you to work towards a better world.’ —Andrew Leigh, Parliamentarian and author of The Shortest History of Economics