The Future Is an AI-Driven Reduced Workweek

Artificial intelligence (AI) could soon lead to the widespread implementation of a four-day workweek. A common model that has served as the basis for many trials and proposed legislation requires full-time employees to work only 32 hours over four days but be paid for 40 hours. This means employees do not lose any pay, full benefits are still received, and overtime pay thresholds are lowered. 

Experts predict that this change is coming, but the timing is uncertain. In fact, a four-day workweek is already a reality for some employers, according to 22% of APA survey respondents. Some believe that AI could eventually result in a three-day or three-and-a-half-day workweek. 

This change would benefit both employees and employers. When considering a job offer, 66% of employees consider a shorter workweek to be a desirable perk. After all, everyone loves getting a three-day holiday weekend, so imagine the benefits of having one every week!

Ways To Reduce the Workweek 

Companies are experimenting with various ways to reduce the workweek. The most common practice is the four-day workweek, consisting of 32 hours and one day off on Friday. In this case, employees work eight fewer hours per week but still receive the same salary. 

In a compressed schedule, employees work 40 hours over four days and then have one day off. Drive Research found that “56% of employees would rather work a 40-hour work week in four days instead of five days.” Surprisingly, switching to a four-day workweek is more enticing than a pay raise to 58% of employees. Some experts caution that compressed workweeks could be detrimental to employee health and caregiving responsibilities.

Another option is a five-day workweek consisting of six hours per day for a total of 30 hours. Additional schedules are based on totaling hours over two weeks to reach 72 or 80 hours, and then having every other Friday off. 

Four-Day Workweek Trials

Many countries have conducted trials for a shorter workweek, ranging from 29 to 40 hours per week. The positive results show that 92% of companies that have tried a four-day workweek will continue it. Workers in Belgium have the right to switch to a compressed workweek that consists of four 10-hour days. The Netherlands has the shortest average workweek at 29 hours, permitting employees to work part-time schedules. 

Four-day week trials were conducted in six continents by 4 Day Week Global, revealing that 39% of employees felt less stressed and 55% reported an increase in work ability. The Henley Business School found that the switch to a four-day workweek results in 78% of employees feeling less stressed and happier. 

Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek 

Four-day workweek trials have proven the many benefits of a shorter workweek. However, success depends on how you design it and how many hours employees are required to work each day. By partnering with an organization, such as 4 Day Week Global, leaders can learn how to redesign their work systems “to ensure teams deliver 100% output and receive 100% pay, all while working just 80% of the time.” Here are the benefits associated with a four-day workweek. 

• Prevents mass layoffs: The Hill reports that planning now for a shorter workweek is the way to prevent AI-driven mass unemployment in the future.
• Greater innovation: As employees experience enhanced well-being from working less, creativity and innovation will thrive.
• Enhances employee wellness: Data shows that four-day workweeks result in reduced stress levels. This helps employees to have a better work-life balance and improved well-being.
• Prevents burnout: With four-day workweek trials showing that it results in happier employees who are less stressed, a shorter work week could prevent burnout and decrease employee turnover. 
• Decreases absences:  Trials found a 62% reduction in employees using sick leave. This is likely a result of the health and wellness benefits associated with a four-day workweek. The decreased absences also contribute to increased productivity. 
• Recruitment savings: Employers who offer four-day workweeks have a unique way of attracting top talent. Employees desire this perk, but few employers currently offer it. As a result, job applications will increase while hiring time and cost decrease. 
• Childcare savings: Employees can save significantly on childcare expenses when they only need to pay for childcare four days per week, not five. 
• Increases productivity: When employees work more strategically with better focus, they can complete their tasks in less time. A four-day workweek trial at Microsoft Japan resulted in nearly a 40% increase in sales. By using AI to streamline tasks and replace repetitive tasks, employees have the time to focus on the tasks that matter most. Even without AI, employers increase productivity by reducing the amount of time employees spend in meetings, improving communication, and making practices more efficient. 
• Reduces overhead expenses: By closing a physical office space for one weekday, companies can reduce operating expenses in multiple areas, including energy consumption, utilities, office supplies, and food.  
• Slows climate change: Eliminating the need to commute to work one day per week reduces carbon emissions and helps slow climate change.

Downsides of a Four-Day Workweek

While there are many proven benefits from four-day workweek trials, there are also some downsides to consider. The four-day workweek is a surprisingly viable model for many companies. However, in some industries, switching to a four-day workweek may not be feasible. Consider these downsides and address them before making the switch.

• Salaries could be reduced: While most four-day workweek trials are based on working 32 hours without any reduction in pay, 62% of companies believe it would be necessary to cut wages if they switch to a reduced workweek. 

• Added stress for employees: Pressure increases when employees are expected to deliver the same results during a shorter time period. Cramming five days of work into four can be challenging, demanding, and overwhelming. The amount of employee stress will depend on how effectively a four-day workweek is implemented. 

• Decreased customer satisfaction: Customers will experience frustration and decreased access to services. However, AI may be able to effectively assist with services on closed days, or employees can work on a staggered schedule to cover all shifts. 

• Lacks the flexibility that workers desire: The trend is to move away from fixed schedules and offer employees the greater flexibility that they want over their schedules. However, a reduced workweek often means less flexibility and a more rigid schedule.
• Not feasible in many industries: It would be difficult for frontline workers, customer service, manufacturing, and warehouse workers to switch to a four-day workweek. For example, a warehouse worker or delivery driver would be unable to cram the physical demands of their jobs into fewer days and still achieve the same output.  

Proposed Federal Laws

In 1938, President Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), making a 40-hour workweek the official standard. There has been no chance since this outdated law was passed 87 years ago. New legislation has been introduced but has not yet been passed. 

While companies are legally permitted to offer a 32-hour, four-day workweek without changing pay and offering overtime pay for over 32 hours, there is no federal law requiring it. Without government support, most employers will not be motivated to adopt an AI-driven reduced workweek. When companies are focused only on the short-term and quarterly profits, it is difficult to see the long-term benefits. 

In 2023, the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act was introduced in Congress to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. As of March 2026, the bill is still in the introductory stages.  

“This bill shortens the standard workweek under federal law from 40 hours to 32 hours over a three-year phase-in period. It also requires specified overtime pay for workdays longer than eight hours.” – Rep. Takano, Mark 

In March 2024, Senator Bernie Sanders also introduced legislation to “reduce the workweek to 32 hours over four years without loss of pay.” The proposed legislation protects workers against a loss of pay and requires overtime to be paid at the following rates: time and a half for over eight hours and double pay for over 12 hours per day. Senator Sanders believes a reduced workweek would be especially beneficial for working families who live paycheck to paycheck. He cited the many positive trials around the globe, ranging from 32 to 37 hours per week. 

Currently, many employees are working longer hours without an increase in wages, despite being more productive because of technology. Sanders reports, “Nearly 40% of employees in the United States are working at least 50 hours a week, and 18% are working at least 60 hours.” It is estimated that AI and automation could potentially save some employees 18 hours of work per week (based on 40 hours). 

Proposed State and Local Laws 

Twelve states have proposed four-day workweek laws, but none have passed yet. The legislation falls into two categories: pilot programs and directive bills that lower the overtime threshold to 32 hours without any reduction in pay. The states that have proposed pilot programs are California, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The following states have proposed directive bills: Washington, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. Wisconsin has provided state funding for pilot programs. 

As of 2019, 650 public school districts in 24 states have implemented four-day school weeks. Some schools are making the switch as a response to teacher shortages. Many localities have implemented four-day workweeks for their public sector workforce. These four-day workweeks contain 32, 36, or 40 hours. 

Some union workers are bargaining for a four-day workweek, while others have already won the right. Switching to a 32-hour workweek presents unique challenges for hourly workers. A new article in Labor Notes states, “For places that employ hourly workers, employers have formulated several ways to ensure workers aren’t losing net pay—including converting them to salaried, raising their hourly wage, or crediting the fifth day as paid time off.” WorkFour is a national campaign that provides resources to advocate for a four-day workweek (32 hours with full pay and benefits) for both unionized and non-unionized workforces.

Expert Opinions 

Many experts believe the future involves a shorter workweek. Eric Yuan, Zoom CEO, believes a five-day workweek is unnecessary.  He thinks that every company will eventually support a three or four-day workweek. Bill Gates is speculating about a two-day workweek. 

According to experts, an AI-driven reduced workweek is not a luxury or employee perk. It is a necessity for economic stabilization amid AI.

“A shorter workweek is not a utopian idea; it is a pragmatic response to a technological shift that is already reshaping the labor market. It’s time to treat ‘less work’ not as a luxury, but as necessary economic planning for an AI-powered world. If we act now, we can ensure that AI strengthens our economy rather than undermines it. If we wait, the cost of inaction will be borne by workers, families and the broader social fabric.” –  Mark Ma, The Hill

A Company Example: Buffer

Nearly 270 U.S. companies have already successfully adopted a four-day workweek consisting of 32 hours. One such company is Buffer, a fully remote social media management company. Employees work a four-day workweek consisting of 32 hours, have every Friday off, and receive the same salary that they did before the switch. Buffer started a one-month trial run in 2020 to better support employees during the pandemic. The trial went so well that a four-day workweek became a permanent fixture in 2021. 

If Buffer employees choose to, they can complete some work tasks on Friday to catch up. CNBC reported that “27% of employees say they’re working an average of four-and-a-half days, with a few hours on a fifth day to catch up on quick tasks or emails.” While Buffer’s customer support department is open seven days a week, the team members still work shortened weeks, but on a staggered schedule to cover all shifts. 

The four-day workweek will be commonplace in the future. AI is here to stay. Companies can choose to fear it or embrace it. Those who choose to plan now to effectively implement an AI-driven reduced workweek will better position themselves to protect their human workforce in the future.