U.S. workers demand shorter workweek amid rising burnout – FlexJobs survey
GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO — A new FlexJobs survey has revealed that 70% of American workers believe it’s time to reevaluate the traditional 40-hour workweek structure.
The study, which gathered insights from 3,099 U.S. professionals from August 5-18, 2024, showed that there’s a mismatch between existing work structures and employee well-being, with only 11% of respondents in favor of the standard five-day schedule.
Mounting workplace pressure
Seventy percent of employees feel that the standard 40-hour workweek should be reviewed. The need to work for more than the standard hours becomes a reality for 28% of working people on a daily basis, and another 30% on either a weekly or a monthly basis.
“The findings in FlexJobs’ survey highlight the prevalence of unhealthy ‘hustle culture‘ and the pressure to overwork,” said Toni Frana, Lead Career Expert at FlexJobs.
“It’s critical that employers focus on developing organizations that prioritize work-life balance over burnout in order to foster healthier, more productive and engaged teams heading into 2025.”
Mental health crisis in corporate America
The result is a concerning picture of workplace wellness: while 34% of respondents indicated that they currently feel “stressed” or “burned out,” an even more troubling number admitted to tolerating hostile work environments because they feared losing their jobs altogether-a reality that 80% of respondents could relate to.
Among the leading causes of stress were excessive workloads (34%), toxic bosses (31%), and unrealistic managerial expectations (31%). Other contributors included job insecurity (29%), blurred work-life boundaries (24%), and organizational changes (22%).
The ripples often spread well beyond the office: 72% of respondents report having trouble sleeping, and 54% say they turn to unhealthy eating habits due to pressure at work. Headaches (46%) and concentration problems (44%) are common side effects of workplace stress.
Growing demand for alternatives
Workers are also increasingly demanding non-traditional schedules. In fact, 89% would prefer alternative work arrangements to the five-day standard.
The survey states that 32% prefer a four-day workweek, while another 32% would like flexible hours and their ability to decide on their working times. Further, 25% of respondents favor a performance structure, where one determines the number of working hours based on meeting targets rather than strict schedules.
Notably, 58% of the workers would be willing to accept a pay cut if they can be allowed to work from anywhere, which indicates an increasing work-related priority for flexibility and work-life balance in this current professional environment.