Yes, A Four-Day Workweek is Possible – With AI and the Right Workspace

Imagine if every weekend was a long weekend—not just in the summer. Thanks to a global push for a four-day workweek, that reality may not be far off. 

Companies everywhere are rethinking traditional work models to improve performance and well-being. And with the rise of AI, a shorter workweek could be closer than ever. But AI can only do so much. What professionals also need: an environment that’s optimized for focused work.

Here, we'll explain why a four-day workweek is catching on, how AI could fast-track its adoption, and what leaders should consider about their workplace to make it possible.

What is a Four-Day Workweek and Why is it Gaining Steam?

When most people think of a four-day workweek, they envision a Monday-to-Thursday schedule with only 32 working hours. But that’s not the only model. 

Some companies stagger employees' days off to ensure coverage throughout the week. Others condense the traditional 40-hour workweek into four longer days. Regardless of the specific approach, the core purpose remains the same: more work-life balance, more productivity, and better employee well-being.

The idea of a four-day workweek isn’t new; Iceland made headlines for successfully trialing the concept from 2015 to 2019. But the pandemic forced many companies to rethink their approach to work and make wellness a priority. That’s in part because many employees wanted a healthier work-life balance – and would leave companies that couldn’t deliver.

It’s no wonder, then, that a four-day workweek has been gaining steam. But does it actually yield tangible benefits? We’ll share details in the next section. 

The Biggest Benefits: Less Burnout, Less Turnover, and Stronger Employee Performance

Since pandemic lockdowns ended, 4 Day Week Global has conducted pilot programs in several countries to measure the impact of a shorter workweek. The benefits across the board: less burnout, less turnover, and more productivity. 

In the UK, for instance, the group conducted a six-month trial with more than 2,900 workers across 61 companies. What leaders reported:

  • 71 percent less burnout

  • 57 percent less turnover

  • 55 percent stronger employee performance.

And that’s not to mention the outsize benefits to work-life balance and mental health. A year after the trial ended, 92 percent of leaders said they’ll continue using the four-day model indefinitely.

A smaller trial in the US and Ireland produced similar results. Companies scored their experience a nine out of 10, and 96.9 percent of employees said they want the shorter workweek to stay.

The takeaway? A four-day workweek can benefit employees and companies in enormously valuable ways.

AI Could Optimize Workloads for a Shorter Workweek 

Even with the benefits we’ve outlined, many companies are still skeptical of a four-day workweek. One reason why? Work doesn’t simply disappear with fewer days. To realistically cut out a workday, companies need to find ways to fast-track or offload a day’s worth of work. 

Here’s where AI comes into play.

AI tools can automate a range of routine tasks that eat up valuable time. Professionals can use AI to…

  • Take meeting notes and identify action items.

  • Extract data from document uploads.

  • Generate rich reports from raw data.

AI can also help accelerate tasks that can’t (or shouldn’t) be fully automated. For instance, a marketer might use AI to brainstorm ideas for a campaign before workshopping the best ones with their team. And on the finance team, AI might draw on market data to offer helpful insights – which an analyst can use to make smarter and faster recommendations.

As AI technology continues to improve, professionals will see greater and greater efficiency. The likely result: enough time savings to make a four-day workweek practical for many companies.

But Professionals Will Need a Quiet Workplace More Than Ever

AI-powered workflows could help companies shorten their workweek. But when employees are working, productivity will be more important than ever. And that requires a dedicated environment for deep work.

Proworking spaces can be a valuable asset here. They’re designed to minimize distractions and enhance focus. Private offices with sound masking technology make it easy to block out noise and concentrate. What’s more, professionals can trust others not to interrupt their flow. That’s because many members are in demanding industries (like law and finance), and they understand what folks need to get serious work done.

The bottom line? A proworking space gives professionals the environment they need to handle a four-day workweek.

Prepare Your Company for the Future of Work

The traditional workweek is evolving – and it may eventually be a thing of the past. The smartest move for leaders: lay the groundwork early for more efficient and focused work.

Firmspace’s proworking spaces can be a part of that foundation. Want to see one for yourself? Book a tour today at any location.

Darby Gerga