#16: Work-Life Balance
Exploring the health implications of a four-day work week.
‘Americanitis’
Before the term burnout was coined, there was neurasthenia—a condition of depleted energy thought to be a “direct consequence of modern life”. Within the past two centuries, the US has experienced rapid urbanization and technological innovations. But what allowed for these advancements has also contributed to a grim outlook on the future of health. Commoditization of time has led to ‘hustle culture’, a movement prioritizing all-nighters, slide decks, and profits, over relationships, hobbies, and personal health.
In 2016, Julie Beck published a piece in The Atlantic titled ‘Americanitis’: The Disease of Living Too Fast. In it, she references psychologist William S. Sadler who describes ‘Americanitis’ as “the hurry, bustle and incessant drive of the American temperament”. Beck also calls back Silas W. Mitchell’s 1871 book Wear and Tear, or Hints for the Overworked where he asks the question: “Have we lived too fast?”.
As if the answer isn’t clear, we have.
Hard at Work
A 2016 WHO study revealed just how detrimental overworking can be at a public health level.
83% of US workers suffer from work-related stress.
55+ hours of work per week is associated with a 35% and 17% higher risk of stroke and dying from heart disease, respectively.
745,000 people died from overwork in 2016 alone.
On one hand, the pandemic brought increased awareness of burnout, especially among healthcare workers, and the numbers illustrate a reality that has only worsened since. On the other hand, stay-at-home orders dramatically changed the future of work for millions of people across the globe by introducing hybrid policies and shorter workdays.
US employers struggle to meet the well-being demands of workers, despite offering health benefits such as weight management, mental health platforms, and lifestyle coaching. These solutions are proving to be short-term fixes to a systemic issue. Other countries are experimenting with a more direct approach to combatting work-related stress: A four-day workweek.
Less is More
Non-profit 4 Day Week Global has conducted numerous studies testing the efficacy of a shortened workweek, everywhere from Europe to Asia to South Africa. Employees across the globe whose employers participated in the studies enjoyed reduced stress, less exhaustion, greater happiness, and higher self-perceived health status.
A 2023 trial in Valencia, Spain showed equally promising results for improving mental health. Workers reported being able to engage in other activities with their extra time including sports, cooking, and spending time with their families.
Trials in Scotland, Wales, Japan, and Portugal all boasted similar outcomes, and in Nov 2022, Belgium became the first country in Europe to legislate a four-day workweek.
Iceland, too, conducted its own pilot of a 35-hour workweek that lasted nearly four years. As a result, about 90% of Iceland’s workforce currently have the option to engage in shortened weeks.
It’s worth noting, these health outcomes aren’t a trade-off for less work output. The largest four-day workweek pilot study in the UK to date—which included 73 companies and 3,300+ employees—reported increased revenue, boosted productivity, and reduced turnover and absenteeism.
Shorter work weeks also help the planet. A study out of the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that a 10% reduction in working hours decreases an individual’s carbon footprint by 8.6% due to less frequent work commutes.
Fleck, A. (October 4, 2022). Are Four-Day Workweeks The Future?
The success of these studies—for both employers and employees—has left much of Europe wanting to retain a four-day week permanently. Unsurprisingly, Americans are advocating for the same.
We no longer live in a society that covets professional pursuits at the expense of health, where sleep is for the weak and progress is to be made at all costs. Instead, Americans want wellness and are even willing to take lower-paying jobs if it means better physical and mental health.
Closing Thoughts
By focusing on well-being, employers have the potential to increase Americans’ lifespan and healthspan by 12 and 20 years, respectively. But with the benefits market saturated by so many point solutions, it's becoming difficult for companies to discern which ones really work.
It is difficult to imagine a US where four-day workweeks are the new normal. But it’s worth the thought experiment because right now, our work is making us sick.
* Link to Beck’s full ‘Americanitis’ piece in The Atlantic.*
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