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The Importance Of A Four Day Work

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Introduction The definition of a four day work week varies depending who you are talking to. It can refer to four eight hour days; four ten hour days; or even four twelve to fourteen hour days. However all variations of a four day work week fall under the umbrella term “alternative work arrangement.” This term refers to any work schedule that varies from the standard five, eight hour work day that the majority of the United States population is used to (Bird 1063). For the purposes of this paper I will be talking about a compressed four day work week, not a shortened four day work week or extended four day work week, this refers to a four hour work week I will be talking about a schedule that consists of four, ten hour days, which is still a full forty hour work week. I will be taking a close look at the benefits and drawback to both the employer and the employee when it comes to working a four day work week. In addition to looking at the benefits to those directly related, the employer and employee, I will also touch on some benefits to those who are indirectly benefited; which refers to the general population. At first glance it would appear to many people that a four day work week is not different than a standard five day work week; after all the same number of hours are being work at weeks end. So, that begs the question why is it that only roughly 960,000 Americans, which is less than 1% of the labor force work a four day work week (Thank God it’s Thursday? 74)?

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