We are living in times where productivity is no longer measured by the number of hours worked. People now realize that long working hours don’t contribute to productivity. Growth will happen when leaders consider the well-being of employees in all aspects of life.
Could an AI-fueled 4-Day workweek is a way to support the overall well-being of employee? This model has already been implemented in industries such as software development and marketing and has shown significant results.
But how have companies made a 4-day work week possible?
AI and Automation
To make a 4-day work week possible, companies should incorporate AI for the routine, monotonous tasks. For example, when you attend a one-hour meeting, you need to immediately send the minutes of the meeting. This is where AI comes to the rescue, helping you summarize the discussion under clear headings and subheadings.
Another area where AI has been extremely useful is scheduling meetings. Meetings are part of any job, and using AI for this process can save valuable time.
Shayne Simpson, the Managing Director of TechNet IT Recruitment, has found that her employees have saved 21 hours on basic tasks, which include resume screening and data entry. This reduces the workload for experienced professionals and also allows new joiners to explore and learn new tools for their professional development.
Remote work
AI can also enhance the efficiency of remote work. It can identify employees with complementary skills and bring them together for a greater impact. It can also get relevant documents in one place, making it easier for the employees to find what they need.
Employee Wellbeing
An article by Walid Al Saqqaf on LinkedIn has highlighted statistics about AI’s impact. In the UK, 61 companies experienced a 35% increase in revenue, indicating improved productivity. Employee well-being also improved significantly. Employee burnout reduced by 71 %, and stress levels decreased by 39 %. This eventually brought down the attrition rate to 57%. At the same time, 62% of employees reported an improvement in their work-life balance. A 27% reduction in workplace commuting also contributed positively to the environment.
4-Day Work Week and Job Creation
A 4-day work week not only reduces the working hours, with more free time, employees are likely to spend more time on leisure activities such as dining out, watching movies, and taking vacations. This will significantly lead to economic growth in the service industry. At the same time, it also reduces stress-related turnover, which in turn brings down the recruitment costs. Work performance improves when employees have a relaxed mind.
Making it Work
Going from a 5-day work week to a 4-day work week needs a strategy. Here’s how different groups can make it work:
1. Companies
Businesses can’t follow the same old work pattern for a 4-day work week to work successfully. The workflow requires redesign.
Invest in AI tools and train the employees.
Focusing on the impact and the results instead of the working hours.
2. Employees
Seeing AI as a helper.
Honing skills related to AI.
Promoting creative and impact-based work.
Global Impact
Countries implementing a 4-day work week have a global advantage over other countries. Since employees these days look forward to meaningful work along with a work-life balance, they would prefer to migrate to places that will fulfill this need. Employees in an environment like this will be innovative in their work. This will not only help the business, but the community as well. Happy people create happier communities.
In Conclusion
By now, we should understand that AI isn’t a threat to businesses or their employees. It is here to make our lives easier and prevent burnout, enabling us to focus on work that brings value. AI is not just there to help the business make a profit. It incites social and economic growth. When we stop seeing AI as evil and see it as a tool for economic development, we are on the right track.
At Job Booster Social India, we are already on this path. From screening resumes to identifying the job market trends, we use AI for the growth of our business.
AI is not just a tool for automating monotonous work, but it is the way to a better work-life balance. With ideas like the 4-day workweek getting more acceptance, AI will continue to be the key factor for employee wellbeing, innovation, and growth.
