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MPR News with Angela Davis
Angela Davis

The promise and possibility of a 4-day workweek

the 4 day workweek
Will the future of full-time work include a flexible schedule and a shorter workweek? A majority of recently surveyed U.S. employees said a four-day workweek would help with their mental health and productivity.
Jessica Lewis Creative for Pexels

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A five-day, 40-hour workweek is the norm for many American workers. But why? What if instead of five work days, we had four? It’s an idea that’s gaining traction. 

A recent pilot program in the U.K. tested four-day workweeks with fewer hours than the standard 40. The study showed positive results across the board among employees and employers.

MPR News host Angela Davis spoke to three experts talk about the possibility and promise of a shorter workweek. 

Guests:

  • Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor at Marketplace, American Public Media's nationally syndicated public radio business and economic program. He’s also a senior economics contributor at MPR News.

  • William P. Jones is a professor of history at the University of Minnesota who studies and writes about organized labor, unions, racial inequality and the history of the Civil Rights movement.

  • Krista Lynn Minnotte is a professor of sociology at University of North Dakota and the co-editor in chief of “The Social Science Journal.”

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.