Inside a U.S. company pioneering the four-day work week model

American workers overwhelmingly say that they want a four-day work week, and in some companies, that's possible. CBS News' Brook Silva-Braga takes a look inside one of the places where it's happening.

"CBS Saturday Morning" co-hosts Jeff Glor, Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson deliver two hours of original reporting and breaking news, as well as profiles of leading figures in culture and the arts. Watch "CBS Saturday Morning" at 7 a.m. ET on CBS and 8 a.m. ET on the CBS News app.

[mrboatshoe]

My old job let us work 4 10hr work days and it was glorious. Once you get used to it it's hard to go back to 5-day work weeks

[Mrthcenturyman]

For the last ten years I worked six days a week with five months of the year blacked out for no extra time off. I quit and found a 4 day a week job. Life is too important.

[richardwhite]

I worked a job back in the late 70's where the manager agreed to a worker suggestion to try a proposed 3 day work week - 12.5 hrs per day. Her only conditions were that everyone had to agree, the same amount of work had to be done, and that the schedule had to give certain coverage during certain hours of the day. Our small crew quickly agreed and we cooperated to design the schedule. We had to have 24 hour coverage, and we did, with each person working 3 straight days with 4 straight days off. We loved it, and so did the manager. By the end of the 3rd work day I was ready for time off, but with 4 straight days, recovery was easy. The system was a phenomenal success. I highly recommend it. All the work was done, and well, while everyone was happier with the situation at no extra cost to anyone.

[ruggedrickrude]

I salute the man who owns the RV place…need more like you who care about the ones you employ

[kathysanchez]

It's awesome to see an employer make decisions on quality of life instead of just on the basis of greed. To explore the whole picture & include employees' needs/wants in the decision-making is great. When a company/employer truly cares/treats their workforce well, the employee, in turn, will have more positive productivity.

[thatunknownguy]

I used to work in a plant. We worked 13 and 1 (6 nights, off a day, then 7 days). It was 12 hour shifts. Now I work as an electric motor mechanic and we work 4 days on and 4 days off (I work nights 5 pm - 3:30 am). I absolutely love it!

Last year, the company was able to do 300 more motors than their best year and these aren't small motors. 120 volt - 4, 000 volt, 10 hp - 10, 000 hp motors.

I never want to go back to 13 and 1 again.

[jimmydilley]

My works switch last year doing 4 day work week and after a year we all talked about how it went, and we realize that we were more productive then ever and happier in our personal life.
Covid make made A lot of people rethink the work life balance and this is a movement that some workplace is really need to start catching onto because it’s a great way to keep talented employees, happy!

[pinkstreetcat]

The more that I worked in corporate America, the more that I didn't understand why a five-day work week was the standard, the norm. Like it was stated in the video, removing meetings and other non-productive tasks can easily make a four-day work week feasible. It's almost sad that removing five days and/or 40 hours from a standard American work week is difficult. But this is a country that really hates change. There are still corporations that refuse to allow folks to work from home - they HAVE to work from the company's office, to complete all of their work on a laptop and on the phone!

[anthony_isaac]

In 1999 I switched our job shop to 4 9 hour days and used Friday as overtime with no weekend work. The attraction of quality employees was great. The people who chose to work with us loved the schedule and was a big perk, still talk to many of those guys today.

[phoenix]

I used to work for a company that had four day work week it was awesome. Had my appointments scheduled on Fridays and errands on Friday. But we worked 10 hrs a day which was worth it.

[AlohaMaui]

So much time wasted in unproductive meetings every day.

[Darius_Cyrus]

Remember that the 40 hour work week itself is somewhat new, established about 100 years ago.
Before then, people did 60 hour weeks, which would be outrageous today.
We should have made enough efficiencies in the last 100 years to move to 32 hours

[simpleuser]

I've been working this mon-thu schedule for many years now. I prefer it over doing 5 days of the week minimum. Here are the pros and cons: pros- 3 days off per week (without over time), 1 trip less traveling, an off day to make appointments/run errands and get more work done each day. Cons- longer work hours, less time at home each workday, may not get enough breaks and may do 10 hours overtime on an off day (pro if you need the pay).

I don't want to follow the traffic jam ups which consists of 9-5 workers. They drive impatiently and dangerously. I like companies that give employees options.

[mr.harmon]

I work at a paper mill and the schedule is 4 X 10. That has been the schedule since it opened in ‘84.

[WetBanditBaits]

I've been trying at my work for 10 years now and HR still says no way

[velmex]

It's not about the 4 days, it's getting your old 40 hr job done in 32 hrs.

[Killcam-ckcs]

A great boss who cares about his employees and understands they have lives and families too I wish every boss was like this guy

[antoniojohnson]

I negotiated a four day work week in both of my last jobs for the last six years. Wednesday specifically. it’s nice to have that day, but the truth is it’s just the day how you use it is what matters. I don’t have kids and don’t want them ever. I normally use it just to decompress, and/or set up specific appointments. My company also has an infinite PTO sick time policy.

[realdeal]

God bless the owners heart for putting this to the test!

[coopsblooms]

I worked 3 years with a 4 day work week. New boss came and made it a mandatory 5 day week despite the company policy of working to meet the needs or the business. My clinic exceeded the sales plan, top 10 in the company in client satisfaction.

Fast forward I’m a small farmer now and work 6-7 days a week, shorter days, but I love what I do. The goal is to continue to grow so myself and future employees have a better work life balance.