The five-day workweek is the classic professional arrangement in the modern economy. You do your hours Monday - Friday, you get to the weekend, wash, wish, repeat.
In the wake of COVID work disruptions, however, younger workers aren't having it. They want more. Well, uh, technically, less, actually:
As workers reconsider their work-life balance post-pandemic, 92% of young people say that they would make sacrifices in exchange for a four-day workweek, according to a new Bankrate survey.
"Younger generations have obviously lived through major economic events like the coronavirus pandemic, which blurred the lines between where you work, how you work, how much time you spend doing it," Sarah Foster, a Bankrate analyst, tells CNBC Make It. "That coupled with this still historically strong job market … is giving them the leverage to bargain for what they want."
Among the things young workers are willing to do to get that sweet four-day week:
- They're willing to work fully in-person! As in, show up to an office and work there all day. Okay, that's not very radical. But in the post-COVID, remote-heavy era, I guess that's notable.
- Nearly half are willing to "work longer hours" on the days they do work.
- Over a third are willing to change companies in order to shave that last day off.
- About a quarter are happy to do evening or weekend work.
- More than 10% are willing to "take a pay cut" (!).
It's not just these young whippersnappers, either: More than "86% of Gen X and baby boomer workers saying that they'd be willing to give something up in exchange for a shorter week."
Someone tell my editors I'd be willing to come in to an office to work if they'd give me a three-day weekend every week!
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