Latest news with #fourdayworkweek
Entrepreneur
4 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Kevin O'Leary: Four-Day Workweeks Are the 'Stupidest Idea'
O'Leary is a remote work enthusiast who often does television interviews wearing a suit jacket paired with pajama bottoms and flip-flops. AI is already changing the workplace, from taking on the tasks of junior employees to creating PowerPoints in your place. Some experts suggest AI could help eliminate wasteful work time and, in turn, cut an entire day from the workweek. And it isn't such a far-fetched idea anymore. After examining 245 businesses and nonprofits that piloted a four-day workweek over the last three years, a new study found that working one less day a week improved employees' mental health and boosted the businesses' bottom line. Moreover, Iceland adopted a four-day workweek in 2019, and Australia and France have piloted programs. Atom Bank in the U.K. has a four-day workweek — and employees can even be fully remote, if they choose. Related: Here's How Eliminating a Workday Without Cutting Pay Impacted Hundreds of Businesses But don't tell this to Kevin O'Leary. Despite being a remote work enthusiast who often does interviews from his hotel room in pajama pants, eliminating a day of work during the week is out of the question. "That's the stupidest idea I have ever heard," O'Leary said on "Outnumbered" on Fox News after being asked for his thoughts on four-day workweeks. "There's no such thing as a work week anymore anyway, in a digital economy." That's the stupidest idea I have ever heard. I think we should let the French go to a two-day work week and then kick their ass internationally. There's no such thing as a work week anymore anyways on a digital economy. I look at my staff, 40% of them work remotely all around the… — Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) June 1, 2025 O'Leary said about 40% of his staff "work remotely all around the world" and that "it's project-based," noting that he only cares about the work getting done, not where or when his staff is working on it. "Can you get it done by the 15th of June? 'Yes, I can.' I don't care when you do it, four-day, three-day, five-day," he said. Related: AI Is Dramatically Decreasing Entry-Level Hiring at Big Tech Companies, According to a New Analysis We don't expect the new study data to change O'Leary's mind, either. Last year, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor told O'Leary that his employees and their four-day workweek (adopted in 2021) are "very productive," and engagement is up 50%. It doesn't look like O'Leary was swayed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These are the benefits that employees actually want—and the number one spot is the same for every generation
Good morning! Managing employees across a four-generation workforce is no easy task, and doing so forces HR leaders to create policies for people with vastly different priorities and perspectives. But when it comes to benefits, a study found that people of all ages agree on what they value most: flexibility. Alternative work schedules, like four-day work weeks, ranked number one on the list of most important benefits by every generation, according to a new study from Mercer Marsh Benefits, a benefits consultancy, which surveyed 18,384 employees. Millennials prioritized flexible work the most (53%), followed by Gen Z (48%), Gen X (47%), and Boomers (43%). And while 49% of workers said that flexible work would be helpful to them or their families, only 32% of employees say their companies allow them to adjust the hours or days they work. That means regardless of age, all workers want the autonomy to manage their day-to-day activities This isn't all too surprising, as many organizations have been attempting to get people back into the office over the past few years. And some are even choosing to implement hard-line return-to-office mandates. But alternative work schedules also makes it easier for employees to take advantage of the other benefits a company offers, the study points out. This includes the ability to take time off to go to medical appointments or therapy. The second highest-ranking benefit remains the same for three out of the four generations. Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X all want the ability to work remotely. Boomers, not surprisingly, ranked flexible options in terms of retirement as their second most valued benefit option. That includes the ability to gradually work fewer hours, modify their job responsibilities, and designate time to transfer knowledge to other generations. From there, benefit priorities vary a bit across age groups. Younger workers like Gen Z want mental health screenings and coverage for doctor visits, Millennials want upskilling opportunities, Gen X is looking towards retirement, and Boomers are focused on preventative care like cancer screenings. So while it may seem difficult for HR leaders to figure out how to tailor their benefits across generations, it's helpful to remember that the need for work-life balance isn't going anywhere, and that allowing employees a little bit of autonomy over how they run their lives can go a long way. Brit CHRO Daily is off Monday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday. We'll be back in your inboxes Tuesday, May 27. This story was originally featured on Sign in to access your portfolio
