ENG190 Draft Project 2

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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Feb 20, 2024

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Project Part Two: Persuasive Essay With Research Southern New Hampshire University ENG 190: Research and Persuasion Professor Stacey Kartub February 8, 2023

Project Part Two: Persuasive Essay With Research The topic of a four-day work week has been in circulation for quite some time now, but how effective is it? The standard five-day work week has been around since the 1920’s, and data shows that the standard 40-hour work week may be needlessly tiring out employees. According to Konish (2023), 81% of American employees are in favor of a four-day work week, and they are willing to make sacrifices to make this possible. To address the standard work week, companies should adopt a four-day work week because it will reduce employee burnout, improve employee well-being, and cut company costs. The first way that a four-day work week will benefit both employers and employees is the fact that it will decrease employee burnout levels. According to the American Psychological Association (2023), “workplace burnout is an occupation-related syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”- and it can result in organizational, psychological, and physical consequences. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, employers and employees are faced with high levels of work demands, only taking a toll on employees feeling burnt out. With this being said, reducing the work week allows employees to have an extra day to decompress the work-related stress. Although it can be argued that a shorter workweek will actually cause more stress, studies show that 71% of employees in a four-day work week experiment reported they experienced less burnout (Stahl, 2023). If we hope to accomplish less burnout in employees, we must also consider the role that a four-day work week plays in employee well-being.

One way in which four-day work weeks will improve employee well-being is that employees will have extra time to invest in themselves. I and many others know all too well that it can be difficult to prioritize both mental and physical health with the standard five-day work week. Shortening the work week allows employees to visit the doctor as needed, spend time with friends and/or family, catch up on sleep, workout, or participate in hobbies. A survey from SyndiGate Media (2023) shows that 91% of employees report that their well-being was positively affected through a four-day work week. It can be argued that employees will feel more pressure to get all tasks done. However, this is an opportunity to get more done in a shorter period. Many business leaders are listening to what data is showing in regard to employee demands, and well-being is generally at the top of the list. According to Meister (2021), “ The Future Workplace 2021 HR Sentiment survey found that 68% of senior HR… rated employee well-being and mental health as a top priority”. If employers wish to prioritize employee well- being, they must consider how a four-day work week could get them there. Lastly, a shocking benefit of a four-day work week is that it can cut company costs. Although employees will be working less for no difference in pay, the four-day work week will cut overhead and other variable costs. This includes reducing electricity and energy consumption, using fewer office supplies and equipment (slower depreciation), fewer janitorial services, and any savings in daily perks offered to employees such as coffee (Castrillon, 2021). Another great benefit that a four-day work week will bring is decreased carbon emissions through reduced commuting. Since employees are not commuting to work as much, they are not consuming fossil fuels, and there would potentially be fewer vehicles on the road. Since the four- day work week increases employee loyalty and job satisfaction, it gives the company a strong

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