An Analysis of Workers' Attitudes toward the 4-Day,40-Hour Workweek

Abstract

Employees' attitudes toward a proposed 4-day, 40-hr. workweek were examined relative to job and worker variables, expectations about the shortened workweek, and satisfaction with facets of the job and company. Employees classified by their sex, work shifts, wage schedules, and sex by work shifts differed significantly in their attitudes toward the 4-day, 40-hr. workweek and in the advantages and disadvantages they expected to result from a revised workweek. Except for a weak relation with pay and promotions, satisfaction with facets of the job and company was not significantly correlated with attitude toward the proposed workweek. The importance of employees' expectations in relation to the 4-day, 40-hr. workweek is discussed, and it is suggested that firms contemplating a revised workweek should examine and explore with employees the impact of a 4-day, 40-hr. workweek before installation.