Question

Some companies and municipalities are switching to a four-day workweek to reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and stressed employees. Compressing the workweek into four 10-hour days sounds pretty good to you. You would much prefer having Friday free to schedule medical appointments and take care of family business, in addition to leisurely three-day weekends.

As a manager at Skin Essentials, a mineral-based skin care products and natural cosmetics company, you are convinced that the company’s 200 employees could switch to a four-day workweek with many resulting benefits. For one thing, they would save on gasoline and commute time. You know that many cities and companies have already implemented a four-day workweek with considerable success. You took a quick poll of immediate employees and managers and found that 80 percent thought that a four-day workweek was a good idea. One said, “This would be great! Think of what I could save on babysitting and lunches!”

Your Task. With a group of other students, conduct research on the Web and discuss your findings. What are the advantages of a four-day workweek? What organizations have already tried it? What appeals could be used to persuade management to adopt a four-day workweek?

What arguments could be expected, and how would you counter them? Individually or as a group, prepare a one-page persuasive e-mail or memo addressed to the Skin Essentials Management Council. Decide on a goal. Do you want to suggest a pilot study? Should you meet with management to present your ideas? How about starting a four-day workweek immediately?

** Create in the form of an email, and include subject, line, date, etc. ********* Use a Persuasive Organizational Message Flowing Upward ***

Answer 1

MEMORANDUM

To: Skin Essentials Management Council

From: Adam (Manager)

Subject: Proposal for a meeting to discuss possible implementation of four-day work week.

Date: 03/04/2020

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am writing this memo to propose a possible alternative with regards to the work week that our esteemed organization can undertake. We currently follow a five day work week and while there is no doubt that our organization has grown immensely, there is always a scope for innovation - this time in the form of four-day work week. With multiple leading organizations follwing the suite, I feel it would be in the best interest of the company and its employees to at least discuss or study the benefits of such a schedule. To such an extent, it would be very much appreciated if the Management Council could take out some time from their valuable schedule so that I can brief in detail about the benefits of this possible schedule.

As of now, I am attaching a preliminary report to highlight the major points I would like to cover:

(A) Advantages of a four-day workweek:

i) The employees that we have hold multiple obligations, from their families to the workfront. These responsibilities are not similar for everyone. Some have their kids to look after, some have medical issues and other concerns which they need time for. It becomes very difficult for them to allocate times on all the fronts. A four-day work week would ensure that every has a fair opportunity to fulfill their personal duties and therefore, perform with the same zeal on the workfront too.

ii) Increased Productivity: Multiple studies have shown that employees who are overworked tend to be less productive. With a four-day work week, the load on the employees would be much lesser, resulting in lower stress levels, higher satisfaction and enhanced company loyalty. This would surely increase the employee productivity.

iii) Reduced Carbon Footprint: With the society becoming increasingly environment conscious, it is also our duty that we contribute to the same in some way. Studies show that commuting to and fro from the office by the employees is one of the contributor to emmission of green house gases. By reducing a day in office, we will also be able to do our bit as far as being environmental friendly is concerned. This would also be in line with the Company's motto to be socially responsible.

(B) Organizataion already trying it out:

Microsoft, Japan: The company experminted with four-day work week schedule and found substantial increase in employee productivity.

Perpetual Guardian, New Zealand: This mid-tier company also went ahead with the four-day work week and again reported substantial increase in employee satisfaction, worklife balace and productivity.

(C) Perceived cons of the four-day work week (and their possible solutions):

(a) Decreased supervision on employees: There is a case beign touted that due to the larger absence from the office, it would be tougher to have an oversight on the employees. With regards to this, it is my belief that the same won't be true for an organization such as ours. With the amount of autonomy, self accountability and motivation that the employees and the management strives for, it'd be very hard for this isue to pose a problem with respect to our organization.

(b) Consumer dissatisfaction: This is another of the lacunas of four-day work week that won't be applicable to our organization. We always strive for highest consumer satisfaction and it is made sure by the established reaction chain that we have. As it is, this can be managed well within the four-hour work week too.

Considering all the points made above, it'd be very much appreciated if Management could consider this request for a meeting dedicated to discussing the proposal for a four-day work week.

Thanks and warm regards,

Adam

(Manager)

Skin Essentials