Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
- Full-time workers are logging fewer hours than in 2019, with younger employees seeing the biggest changes.
- Technology and evolving priorities are helping people work smarter while protecting time outside the office.
- Rising burnout and lower engagement are prompting companies to redesign how and when work gets done.
Since 2019, the number of hours worked by full-time employees in the United States has steadily declined. Gallup data shows that average weekly hours have dropped from 44.1 in 2019 to 42.9 in 2024. This pattern holds across industries, roles, and age groups, and is most visible among younger workers.
Employees under 35 are now working nearly two fewer hours each week than they did five years ago, a reduction that adds up to two full weeks over the course of a year. Older employees have also seen a decline, with nearly one week less on the job annually. These are not isolated cases, but a widespread adjustment taking shape across the modern workforce.
Time Is Being Revalued
This change reveals a redefinition of how employees view their time and energy; workers are placing greater importance on wellbeing, personal growth, and time spent outside of work. Priorities have shifted, and professional choices are increasingly shaped by how well they support life outside the office.
Many younger professionals now evaluate job opportunities through a wider lens. Compensation and career growth remain important, but so do rest, balance, and meaning. The traditional five-day workweek is beginning to feel out of step with the way people want to work. As employees explore more flexible routines, the four-day week has entered the conversation as a viable next step.
Technology Is Supporting Efficiency
One reason this transition feels more possible today is the availability of tools that support efficiency and reduce friction. From streamlined workflows to AI-powered systems, technology has made it easier to complete tasks quickly and accurately. Gallup reports that 45% of employees believe AI has helped them become more productive.
This boost in output creates space to reconsider how the workweek is structured, because when productivity rises, expectations around time naturally change. Leaders and teams are beginning to ask how to balance these gains with a healthier rhythm of work. The idea of condensing five days into four while maintaining performance is becoming less of a theory and more of a testable model.
Engagement and Burnout Tell a Larger Story
Gallup’s research puts a spotlight on a deeper change in workplace dynamics. Employee engagement has dropped to its lowest point in a decade, with only 31% of workers reporting a strong connection to their roles. The decline is most noticeable among younger professionals, who are expressing a greater need for clarity, encouragement, and support.
At the same time, burnout continues to rise. The World Health Organization now even recognizes it as an occupational phenomenon tied to chronic workplace stress. Gallup has shown that employees working more than 45 hours per week are far more likely to experience burnout, especially when they feel disconnected from their work.
Employees who feel engaged, however, report much better outcomes. Even at higher hour counts, they tend to remain energized and motivated. This reinforces the importance of strong leadership, clear expectations, and meaningful recognition. When these elements are in place, employees are better equipped to manage their workloads and sustain performance.
Organizations Are Rewriting the Workweek
Across industries and countries, leaders are beginning to respond to these alterations. Some are experimenting with condensed schedules, allowing teams to work fewer days without reducing pay, and others are creating more flexible arrangements that allow employees to manage their time based on outcomes, rather than clocking in a set number of hours.
These changes are indicative of a growing awareness that productivity thrives in environments that support focus and wellbeing. With the right structure, teams can accomplish their goals without relying on long hours or rigid schedules. This approach values quality over quantity and recognizes the importance of trust, autonomy, and balance.
The four-day workweek is one expression of this trend. It speaks to a wider belief that time at work should be purposeful and sustainable.
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The move toward shorter workweeks is already happening, one hour at a time.
For example, in 2021, online clothing consignment company ThredUp transitioned to a four-day workweek. A year later, 93% of employees agreed that the shorter workweek improved their productivity, and voluntary turnover among corporate staff decreased by 55% compared to 2019. In 2022, Kickstarter implemented a four-day workweek, reducing the standard workweek to 32 hours without a pay cut. This initiative aimed to improve employee well-being and has been associated with increased morale and engagement.
What we are seeing now is not a sudden change, but a gradual and intentional rethinking of how work fits into life. The future may not look the same for every company, but the direction is clear. The structure of the workweek is becoming more thoughtful, more focused, and more aligned with how people want to live and work.
