As the U.S. considers implementing a four-day work week, more Canadian companies are trying out the shorter work week and seeing the benefits.
Canadian HR software company Humi implemented a 4.5-day work week that began in 2020 letting staff early on Fridays.
It found that 93 per cent of their employees said the shorter work week helped them improve work-life balance, according to a survey the company conducted.
READ MORE: Over 95% of employees report a happier workplace with a 4-day workweek in Canada: study
Vice President of People at Humi Courtney Lee specifies 135 employees were surveyed, of which around 40 of them have families, totaling 90 including couples.
“As employees have an extra half day off each week, it allows extra time to focus on their personal lives,” Lee said in a statement to Now Toronto.
Lee mentions that extra time for employees has carried into more uninterrupted time spent with friends or family, being able to unwind easier from the work week before transitioning into the weekend, and running errands during usual business hours.
“Some employees say the extra half day helps reduce burnout, which increases their productivity and engagement throughout the rest of the week,” Lee said.
Humi’s survey also found the women in the company rated the improvement to work-life balance slightly higher than their male counterparts.
In Toronto, women-led recruitment company The Leadership Agency implemented a four-day work week during the pandemic after noticing growing burnout among employees.
For Canadians worried about reduced vacation time, some companies don’t reduce salaries, sick days, or personal days after shifting to shorter work weeks.
“Our intention was to improve the work-life balance of our employees – and reducing vacation accruals feels counterintuitive,” Lee said.
The Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence created the National Work Time Reduction Program and the Women 4 Work Time Reduction for any Canadian company interested in transitioning to four-day work weeks.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, which was proposed earlier this month, aims to transition American companies over four years to avoid pay losses.
