The Advantages and Disadvantages of a 4-Day Work Week in Singapore

A workforce revolution is underway. First, companies went completely digital. Then, entire nations adopted work-from-home setups. The next phase seems to be the 4-day work week, which is gaining traction in Singapore slowly and surely. 

The compressed schedule intends to achieve the same results as a regular week while offering employees an improved work-life balance. They can use the extra day with friends, families, and interests outside of work. Meanwhile, employers could benefit from a shorter work week by boosting employee morale, increasing productivity, and decreasing turnover rates.

This next evolution of the workforce leaves much for discussion, particularly the advantages and disadvantages. If you're considering implementing a 4-day work week, read this article to see the pros and cons of what you're getting into. 

In a 4-day work week, employees have four days to finish the same amount of tasks they would have in five days. The aim is to encourage productivity. Supposedly, the promise of a long weekend motivates employees, prompting them to utilise their time more efficiently. It also intends to cut procrastination.

On your end, your employees may experience decreased burnout and, thus, a lower turnover. The crux of a 4-day work week is to measure your people based on results and output instead of time logged. 

A 4-day work week may be the natural next step after the pandemic's disruptions, but it's not a novel concept. During the Industrial Revolution, Ford Motor Co. led the way when they compressed the then 6-day work week into just five days. The company's rationale was pretty much the same as the reasons it is making a comeback. So, you can consider this scheme a work trend that may be returning to fashion. 

The pandemic reset employees' priorities. The idea that “health is wealth” became sacred, and more companies adopted mental health policies to ensure a healthy and conducive work environment. Asia is known for its “work is life” culture, and while older generations might still cling to this mentality, younger generations are growing increasingly unsatisfied with the status quo. A 4-day work week appeals to millennial and Gen-Z employees and jobseekers as it tells them that a company cares for the work-life balance of its workforce. 

The 4-day work week has become a norm in some countries. The biggest company to experiment with this arrangement is undoubtedly Microsoft, which implemented a compressed work week in the most workaholic country in the world – Japan. The results were a success as the company experienced a 40 per cent boost in productivity. Microsoft also saved money on the trial when its electricity bill went down by 23 per cent. Other companies to adopt a 4-day work week include Basecamp, Bit.io, and Panasonic. So far, the tech industry seems to be leading the way with this scheme. 

Governments have also been testing the 4-day work week on a large scale. These countries include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The advantages The overall goal of a 4-day work week is to improve the quality of life for all employees. It gives them more time to spend with friends and family and focus on other essential parts of their life. 

But the 4-day work week also offers plenty of pros for the employer. Here’s what employers can expect: 

• More efficient time management

• Increased productivity due to improved time management

• Increased sales due to increased productivity

• Reduced employee burnout

• Improved employee retention due to decreased burnout

• Decreased operating costs (such as electricity bills)

• Healthier work culture and environment

The disadvantages  While a 4-day work week seems ideal for everyone involved, it might not fit every company and industry. Moreover, its success will rely on the existing work culture and your team’s ability to adapt to a new system. Here are some challenges employers might face with a 4-day work week: 

• Lower output quality due to time constraints

• Decreased customer service satisfaction due to unavailability

• Higher costs for revisions or improvements for rush products or services

• Longer hours to make up for one less working day

• Inefficient workforce management unable to acclimate to a 4-day work week

• The inability of the company to adapt due to the nature of their work (call centre, healthcare, et cetera)

You may remember that until 2004, Singaporeans in civil service used to work 5.5 days a week. Since then, the country has made strides in encouraging a better work-life balance. JobStreet’s 2022-2023 Outlook for Hiring, Compensation and Benefits, which studied 438 companies, shows that 80 per cent of respondents already offer a 5-day work week. Meanwhile, 10 per cent allow employees to leave early on Fridays.

What Companies Have Adopted a 4-Day Work Week in Singapore?  Some local companies have already adopted the new system. While the government has not initiated trials like Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Power encourages employers to adopt a “flexible mindset” on the 4-day work week, according to Channel News Asia.

Some Singapore companies that offer a 4-day work week include: 

• PropertyGuru

• Mambu Singapore

• Candlenut

• Tenya Singapore

You can also check out JobStreet’s listings for 4-day work week jobs. So far, only one per cent of openings on JobStreet Singapore offer a 4-day work week, and many of these jobs are entry-level roles in sales or service sectors. The system is still relatively new in the country, but more companies are learning its benefits. 

Meanwhile, one bank employee was so dissatisfied with her old company’s work system that, when she resigned, she set up her own business that adopted the 4-day work week. Lazywaist Co currently gives employees three days off a week, which the owner says has motivated the employees.

So, is a 4-day work week ideal for your company? Employees might be clamouring for a 4-day work week, but the reality is that such a system might not fit every company. First and foremost, you’ll have to consider your company, industry, and business model. A 4-week work week fits output-based companies best, particularly those in tech, engineering, advertising, et cetera. 

These fields do not require 24/7 activity, unlike the customer service sector or frontline industries like healthcare and police service. Determine whether a 4-day work week is feasible for your business model and then whether it’s profitable. Will you save or lose money if your team only checks in four times a week to complete the same amount of work? If the answer is the former, then a 4-day work week is an option.

Then, consider your company culture. Will your team benefit from a 4-day work week? Will they be motivated by a shorter time frame, or will fewer hours to complete their workload only worry them? Are they self-sufficient and trustworthy enough to complete their tasks within a limited period? If the answers are positive, then you’ll need to ask your last question. 

Will a 4-day work week improve your company's long-term growth and sustainability? Many companies adopted remote work policies to endure the pandemic, but many also chose to maintain the remote work setup as it benefited them in the long run. If you see a 4-day work week as beneficial to your long-term goal, whether it’s employee retention or improved productivity, then it might be ideal for your company. 

How Do You Implement a 4-Day Work Week in Your Company?  The first act of business should be to assess how you can adapt your business model to a 4-day work week while maintaining profitability and customer satisfaction. One way to do this would be to rewire your model to become output driven. You can protect your bottom line while also supporting your team’s work-life balance. 

Another important step would be to speak with your internal and external stakeholders and glean their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions for the rollout of a 4-day work week. Your stakeholders are the ones who will be the most affected by a schedule, and as such, they might possess important insights you might have overlooked. For example, while most Singaporeans want a 4-day work week, they fear it will mean longer hours, thus negating the work-balance intentions. If so, you can take preventative measures to ensure that hours will stay the same. 

Creating a business contingency plan is also essential. Any massive change comes with risks, which you can mitigate with a Plan B. Allot a specific time frame for a 4-day work week trial, or limit it to specific teams or departments. This way, you can ease your entire company into the new arrangement without making it a shock to the system. 

Once everything is in place, then it’s time for the actual implementation. If you prepare everything for your 4-day work week goals in advance, then it should go off without a hitch. 

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