Businesses Are Moving to 6 Day Work Weeks

Americans might be forced to work six days a week as companies look to increase profits and move away from the workplace flexibility that became common during the pandemic era.

Companies have already been bringing back employees in office with mandates, but a new report found many companies might take this a step further and require workers to add on an additional day of work.

While Samsung has already mandated a six-day workweek for its executives, a ResumeBuilder survey found many more plan to follow suit. Across the nearly 800 companies surveyed, one in 10 business leaders said they plan to institute a six-day workweek in 2025.

And across the board, many believed in the power of working longer hours to boost revenues. One in six said they think full-time employees should work more than 40 hours a week, and a whopping 76 percent said a six-day workweek would increase productivity.

That perspective by company leaders has inevitably struck a nerve with employees, many of whom already feel pressured by the lack of work-life balance at their companies.

"It's surprising that any company would look at expanding the workweek, especially for their full-time employees, rather than condensing the workweek to meet the needs and wants of their employees," Resume Builder's Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller said in the report.

Companies considering a six-day workweek often operate internationally and might perform better across time zones if a six-day workweek was in place, Haller said. But the risks to employees and company culture could easily damage organizations in the long run.

"It's crucial to recognize that this approach comes with significant risks to employees, including compromised work-life balance, increased burnout, and higher turnover rates," Haller said. "Striking a balance between operational efficiency and employee well-being is paramount in such scenarios."

Luckily, if more six-day work weeks go into effect, it could lead to higher salaries for workers. The ResumeBuilder report found 95 percent of business leaders believe a six-day workweek with eight more hours of work should result in increased pay.

Still, Andy Nisevic, the director of One Degree Training and Coaching, cautions employees to know that the number of company leaders actually looking to implement a six-day workweek would be very low. And for those that do, backlash is bound to occur.

"It may have a short-term increase in productivity, but when balanced against staff morale, motivation, and retention it's unlikely to be sustainable," Nisevic told Newsweek. "With a higher number of businesses exploring options to offer more and more flexibility, and four-day weeks, there's a huge risk of becoming unfavorable in talent recruitment."

HR consultant Bryan Driscoll went as far as to call the one in 10 business leaders "out of touch" and "dumb."

"Honestly, I'm shocked," Driscoll told Newsweek. "This survey shows a deeply concerning trend in the corporate world. It's crucial to recognize this move not as a step forward, but as a regressive leap that threatens to undermine the very fabric of our workforce and societal well being."

Driscoll added that a six-day workweek reflects a capitalist mindset that "prioritizes profit over people," and could quickly lead to reduced employee morale and burnout.

Without an appropriate amount of time away from work, Driscoll said employees' mental health and life satisfaction will go down.

"The implementation of a six-day workweek perpetuates a cycle where individuals are seen merely as tools for wealth generation for the already affluent, rather than as human beings with diverse needs and aspirations," Driscoll said, adding there could be lingering implications for health care costs and a decline in consumer spending as Americans would be stuck at their desk jobs during the weekend.

"Any company making this move is making a big step backward," Driscoll said.

If your company has switched to a six-day workweek or is thinking about the change, please reach out to personalfinance@newsweek.com