‘Slight loss’: Truth behind four-day weeks

A man that has embraced the four-day working week has revealed the reality and the “slight loss” that comes with it.

The four-day working week might still be just a dream for most Aussie workers, but sole traders are embracing it rapidly.

New research from financial service Hnry’s has found that 39 per cent of self-employed Australians work only four days a week, and over 53 per cent of sole traders feel financially secure.

Psychologist Jean Pierre Viviers lives in Tasmania and has been working four days a week for over two years now, and he has found that it is paying off mentally and financially.

“I manage my working days to incur only a slight loss for taking one day off each week,” he told news.com.au.

“I have adjusted my schedule by cutting down my lunch hour, which has been a manageable compromise. Additionally, since my child attends daycare, taking care of him one day a week means we save on daycare costs for that day.”

He gets to spend more time with his son. Picture: Supplied

He said the extra day off “energises” him. Picture: Supplied

Having an extra day to himself, or to spend with his son has been an absolute game-changer for the psychologist.

“The extra day off energises me and fully allows me to commit to my work during the remaining four days,” he said.

“This break significantly improves both my mental and physical capacity to perform my job effectively.”

Getting away from the five-day working week has allowed Mr Viviers to invest into his family life.

“I spend the day with my 18-month-old son, engaging in community activities such as dance classes and story sessions at our local library,” he said.

“I also manage household tasks and do some meal prepping for the busier days of the week.”

The key to taking a day off from work is disconnecting and not falling into the trap of checking emails or replying to messages.

“I avoid any work-related tasks on this day, which has greatly helped me bond with my son. This time is invaluable, given how quickly he is growing,” he said.

Right now, he doesn’t see a potential reason why he’d have to go back to the five-day-a-week grind, but he isn’t closed off to the possibility.

“I might consider it if our family’s financial situation changes, but overall, I have no plans to return to a five-day work week at this time,” he explained.

He said a shorter working week gives people time to live their lives. Picture: Supplied

The chief strategy officer at Hnry, Karan Anand, said that working four days a week gives workers a chance to live their lives.

“It helps individuals prioritise their personal lives and achieve a work-to-live balance rather than a live-to-work mindset. By working smarter and more flexibly, sole traders find they can better manage their time, reduce stress, and prevent burnout, leading to an improved work-life balance,” he said.

“With a condensed schedule, you’re likely to work more efficiently, be thoughtful with your time and work outputs, and remain focused.”

Mr Anand said that working less also doesn’t mean that sole traders are always taking home less cash.

“More than half of Aussie sole traders feel financially secure, and nearly half reported a higher income last quarter, with an average income of $30,000 in Q2 compared to $23,000 for the general population,” he said.

“This shows us that it is possible to maintain or even boost your income while balancing a four-day work week around your family and life commitment.”

Originally published as ‘Slight loss’: Truth behind four-day weeks