
The Next Big Idea Daily Why the Five-Day Workweek No Longer Makes Sense
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Jan 19, 2026 Join Jared Lindzon, a journalist focusing on the future of work, and Joe O'Connor, a work redesign researcher, as they make the compelling case for a four-day workweek. They discuss how this shift can enhance productivity and well-being, backed by real-world trials. Joe Sanok, a psychologist and author, shares insights on optimizing work habits and introduces his framework for implementing a shorter week. They explore the historical roots of the five-day workweek and reveal how grassroots movements can drive meaningful change in workplaces.
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Workweek Is A Historical Construct
- The five-day workweek is an inherited industrial-era convention, not a scientific necessity.
- Jared Lindzon argues we can redesign work to fit modern knowledge economies rather than factory schedules.
Hours Don't Equal Knowledge Productivity
- Measuring productivity by hours fits assembly lines but not knowledge work.
- Joe O'Connor links future productivity to human effectiveness plus digital efficiency, not time logged.
Use The Short Week To Drive Redesign
- Design a four-day week thoughtfully with process changes and tech adoption, not just an extra day off.
- Use the shortened week as an incentive to overhaul workflows and adopt tools that boost output by 20%.





