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Is a Four-Day Workweek Possible?
Episode 60
Japan, Spain, Ireland, the list goes on as more countries embrace a four-day workweek. But is it sustainable? What are some of the challenges? Join us as we break down whether a four-day workweek is possible here or merely a dream for the property management industry.
Host(s): Jonathan Saar from Market Me Social and Mark Howell from Howl Creative Concepts
Show Highlights
A four-day workweek has a nice ring to it. Especially as the call for people to return to the office continues to get louder, let’s face it, Covid was and still is an incredibly disruptive force in the workplace. It showed us that there is more than one way to get our jobs done, creating the controversy that is fueling the Great Resignation. Companies may want to return to business as usual, but many are looking for something different. In this article, we join the debate and share our perspectives on what this could mean for the property management industry.
Key Questions/Topics Covered
A four-day workweek – Mark’s Perspective
Four-day workweeks may work well in other countries but are they sustainable here in the U.S.? We are a pressure-driven society that seems to be eternally focused on doing more, not less. Being a customer service-based industry, how would something like a four-day workweek be accomplished? Somebody has to be in the office.
Yes, we have new and emerging technologies like AI and virtual assistants, but at what point do we say enough is enough? Are we risking pushing ourselves out of a job? Can technology ever truly replace the human element of customer service?
It has been my experience as well that the people demanding a different workflow, be it work-from-home or a four-day workweek, are the ones who are already not giving their jobs 100%. I think it’s fair to say that if you want this level of flexibility, you should bring nothing less than your A-game on the days you are working.
All of that aside, there is something to be said for the fact that many felt they were actually more productive working outside of the office. This is presenting quite the challenge for companies. They either need to find a way to create an environment that will make employees happy to return or embrace the fact that Covid has changed the way business is done.
Herein lies one of the aspects that have led to the Great Resignation. We have people leaving to find jobs that support the lifestyle they have become accustomed to, along with a younger generation that is also looking for flexibility. In my opinion, the best way to manage these expectations is a reward-type system. It’s simple if you hit all your goals for a specific period of time, then you have earned that four-day workweek or the ability to work from home.
There is a need to mitigate these demands and focus on accountability. Companies, of course, want to attract the best and the brightest, but they can’t give in to every single request. By creating a reward system, you are clearly setting goals and expectations that benefit all involved.
A four-day workweek – Jonathan’s perspective
I personally feel there are more significant hurdles to overcome before we can even begin to discuss the possibility of a four-day workweek. The poll I recently ran on LinkedIn highlights one of the major ones. The question was simple: How many hours do you spend working in the evening?
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By Jonathan Saar
4.5
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Episode 60
Japan, Spain, Ireland, the list goes on as more countries embrace a four-day workweek. But is it sustainable? What are some of the challenges? Join us as we break down whether a four-day workweek is possible here or merely a dream for the property management industry.
Host(s): Jonathan Saar from Market Me Social and Mark Howell from Howl Creative Concepts
Show Highlights
A four-day workweek has a nice ring to it. Especially as the call for people to return to the office continues to get louder, let’s face it, Covid was and still is an incredibly disruptive force in the workplace. It showed us that there is more than one way to get our jobs done, creating the controversy that is fueling the Great Resignation. Companies may want to return to business as usual, but many are looking for something different. In this article, we join the debate and share our perspectives on what this could mean for the property management industry.
Key Questions/Topics Covered
A four-day workweek – Mark’s Perspective
Four-day workweeks may work well in other countries but are they sustainable here in the U.S.? We are a pressure-driven society that seems to be eternally focused on doing more, not less. Being a customer service-based industry, how would something like a four-day workweek be accomplished? Somebody has to be in the office.
Yes, we have new and emerging technologies like AI and virtual assistants, but at what point do we say enough is enough? Are we risking pushing ourselves out of a job? Can technology ever truly replace the human element of customer service?
It has been my experience as well that the people demanding a different workflow, be it work-from-home or a four-day workweek, are the ones who are already not giving their jobs 100%. I think it’s fair to say that if you want this level of flexibility, you should bring nothing less than your A-game on the days you are working.
All of that aside, there is something to be said for the fact that many felt they were actually more productive working outside of the office. This is presenting quite the challenge for companies. They either need to find a way to create an environment that will make employees happy to return or embrace the fact that Covid has changed the way business is done.
Herein lies one of the aspects that have led to the Great Resignation. We have people leaving to find jobs that support the lifestyle they have become accustomed to, along with a younger generation that is also looking for flexibility. In my opinion, the best way to manage these expectations is a reward-type system. It’s simple if you hit all your goals for a specific period of time, then you have earned that four-day workweek or the ability to work from home.
There is a need to mitigate these demands and focus on accountability. Companies, of course, want to attract the best and the brightest, but they can’t give in to every single request. By creating a reward system, you are clearly setting goals and expectations that benefit all involved.
A four-day workweek – Jonathan’s perspective
I personally feel there are more significant hurdles to overcome before we can even begin to discuss the possibility of a four-day workweek. The poll I recently ran on LinkedIn highlights one of the major ones. The question was simple: How many hours do you spend working in the evening?