Covid gave us hybrid work. The Iran War might give us a four-day week-and experts say it could stick
Fortune • • general
Key Points:
- Governments worldwide are encouraging remote work and shorter workweeks to conserve fuel amid an energy crisis exacerbated by Middle East conflicts affecting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Experts suggest a permanent global shift to a four-day workweek is unlikely in the short term, especially in Western countries where fuel price spikes are viewed as temporary, but developing countries with less transport infrastructure may adopt it more readily.
- The forced trial of shorter workweeks in Asia could accelerate global acceptance, as workers experiencing benefits may resist returning to traditional schedules, paralleling the pandemic-driven rise of remote work.
- While a four-day workweek may improve conditions for office workers, it risks increasing inequality by imposing greater strain and income loss on lower-skilled, physically demanding, or customer
