The idea of a four-day work week has been gaining momentum globally, more so after the Covid- 19 pandemic and recent results from a UK pilot study in 2022 are eye-opening. Over 60.0 companies took part in a six-month trial, cutting one workday a week without reducing pay. The results showed higher productivity at 55.0%, happier employees and even increased revenue at an average of 35.0%for businesses. Most companies never looked back! With 92.0% of the companies adopting the model. Imagine what this could mean for Kenya.
Let’s be honest , we live in a country where work life balance is often a luxury. Burnout is common, especially in cities. The grind of working six days a week, battling Nairobi traffic, and juggling work with other responsibilities is taking a toll. We barely see our children during the week, just constantly playing catch-up with colleagues. It just doesn’t have to be and a shorter work week could change that.
But this isn’t about working less, it’s about working better. In the UK trial, companies got creative. They reduced unnecessary meetings, cut out time wasting tasks, and made space for focused work resulting to More work done in less time. We can easily benefit from the same approach.
Fewer days in the office means reduced costs, less traffic congestion which leads to increased efficiency particularly in Nairobi, where commuting can eat up hours. For employers it means cutting costs like electricity bills which is a game changer! Let’s not also ignore the gender angle. In many Kenyan homes, women shoulder most of the domestic work on top of their jobs. A four-day week could give them the much-needed breathing space and maybe even help more women stay and grow in their careers.
Of course, not every sector can implement this right away. Sectors like healthcare and hospitality, will need tailored solutions. But that’s no reason to dismiss the idea altogether. Start-ups, NGOs, government offices, and corporations can lead the way by piloting this idea and sharing what works.
We already embraced remote work when Covid-19 hit. And while it wasn’t perfect, it proved that we’re capable of adapting. Let’s stop measuring productivity by the number of hours we sit at a desk, and start focusing on results and well being.
We owe it to ourselves to try!
