Discover the environmental and personal gains of evaluating workweek detailed in Giada Ferraglioni and Sergio Colombo’s analysis exploring a four-day schedule’s carbon benefits. Consider ways to achieve productivity with reduced emissions by adjusting commute patterns and energy use as recommended.
The authors persuasively argue shifting to 32 paid hours could trim emissions through less commuting and power demands, without hurting performance. Case studies reveal green opportunities of condensed schedules for offices, factories and services across economies.
Readers gain wisdom on workstream optimization and carbon reduction coordination. Synergizing environmental and quality-of-life gains merits consideration, especially as remote shifts persist and climate pressures mount.
This informative assessment of an alternative work culture’s air-quality impacts inspires creative solutions for sustainable operations and thriving communities.
Table of Contents
Genres
Climate change, environmental science, sustainability, labor economics, work-life balance, urban planning, transportation, energy policy, business management, lifestyle
Recommendation
Could a boon for worker well-being also provide a boost for the planet? The results of the world’s largest-ever four-day workweek experiment say yes: Employees benefit, and employers don’t suffer when they downshift from the 40-hour workweek. Some firms even found additional positive side effects, journalists Giada Ferraglioni and Sergio Colombo report. When employees commute less, it leads to a drop in emissions. And when workers have more free time, they’re more willing and able to engage in sustainable behaviors.
Take-Aways
- A four-day workweek could help reduce global carbon emissions.
- Employees tend to use their extra leisure time for environmentally friendly activities.
- Government support could encourage more private companies to embrace a four-day workweek.
Summary
A four-day workweek could help reduce global carbon emissions.
A large-scale study on the effects of a four-day workweek in the UK between June and December 2022 aimed to assess whether cutting weekly work hours harmed employee productivity. The results indicate that a shorter workweek did not lower productivity – and in some cases, productivity increased. In some cases, like that of environmental consultancy Tyler Grange, the shift also reduced commuting time.
“A 10% reduction in hours is associated with an 8.6% fall in carbon footprint.”
Broader data from the UK study backs Tyler Grange’s findings: Participants who tracked their employees’ commutes noted a 10% decrease in drive time over the pilot period. A US-based version of the study saw a 27% decrease. This decline, economist and sociologist Juliet Schor argues, means a smaller carbon footprint, as a shorter workweek reduces commuting-related emissions. In addition to the drop in commuting-related emissions, Tyler Grange noted a decline in data-transfer and storage-related emissions and electricity usage.
Employees tend to use their extra leisure time for environmentally friendly activities.
While the data suggest a shorter workweek is positive for the planet, some experts claim a rise in leisure-related emissions could undercut its environmental benefits if workers undertake more extended travel time thanks to longer weekends. And even proponents who believe the four-day workweek is greener admit there’s no way to know how people will use their extra time.
That said, few of the study participants ramped up their leisure travel, and the overarching evidence suggests that giving workers more downtime would prove a net positive for the environment.
“Data from the US Energy Information Administration also shows that people in the US burn nearly 10% less fossil fuels on weekends than on weekdays.”
An emissions study focused on North America and Europe found the average carbon footprint was smaller on weekends; on Sundays, emission rates were 40% lower than average, with weekday emissions almost 20% higher than average. Moreover, UK and US workweek studies found that employees used their free time for low-carbon, environmentally-friendly activities. People went hiking and gave more time to environmental causes. They also managed to do more recycling and buy eco-friendly products. Increasing green spaces in cities would also encourage people to use their leisure time in environmentally friendly ways.
Government support could encourage more private companies to embrace a four-day workweek.
More study is needed to determine the full environmental effects of a move to a four-day workweek. But even if the benefits were certain, many employers would still hesitate to move to a four-day workweek. Government incentives – like Spain’s offer of up to 150,000 euros to small- and medium-sized businesses willing to test the four-day week – could help. Other support might include putting legal limits on weekly work hours or making all government jobs four-day positions – thus prompting private employers to follow suit.
About the Authors
Giada Ferraglioni is a freelance journalist focusing on foreign, environmental and social policy. Sergio Colombo is a global affairs journalist and editor.
Read the full article here: The climate benefits of a four-day workweek