"4-Day Workweek Is Not a Utopian Ideal... It's Simply a Matter of Implementation" [Jjinbit]

[Four-Day Workweek Era②]
Nonprofit 'Podayweek Global' Conducting Large-Scale Experiments in UK and Others
Interview with Alex Sujeong Kim, Program Manager and 'US Futurist'

Alex Sujeong Kim Bang, program manager at the nonprofit organization 'Four Day Week Global' and futurist in the United States

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunjin Jeong] "Reducing working hours is no longer a utopian ideal but a matter of implementation."

Alex Soojung Kim Bang, Global Program Development Manager at 4 Day Week Global, a non-profit organization leading the four-day workweek experiments in the UK and other countries, said this in a written interview with Asia Economy on the 27th. An American futurist and business consultant, he holds a Ph.D. in the history of science from the University of Pennsylvania and has worked as a researcher at Microsoft (MS), Stanford University, and Oxford University. Since founding the U.S. consulting firm Strategy&Rest in 2013, he has advocated how important rest is for improving corporate productivity.

Since publishing his 2020 book Shorter: The Age of Working Four Hours a Day, Bang said, "The way companies think and talk about the four-day workweek has changed significantly after experiencing COVID-19," noting a decrease in reflexive skepticism. He added, "In large corporations, approving experiments is more formal, and the planning systems and experiments are more complex," and reported that "the size of companies interested in the four-day workweek is growing." This indicates that the need for and awareness of adopting a four-day workweek have increased amid the COVID-19 situation. 'The Era of the Four-Day Workweek'

◆ "Four-Day Workweek, a Solution to Existential Issues... Need Flexible Response with a Plan"

Bang explained that the four-day workweek is a solution for many companies to "hire new talent or retain existing employees, achieve work-life balance (WLB), and address daily existential issues such as burnout." He said that companies considering adopting the four-day workweek face challenges that vary by industry, company, and country, but fundamentally, they ask similar questions about the four-day workweek. "Overwork culture, burnout, and WLB-related issues have now become global phenomena," he said.

The book "Shorter: The Era of Working Only 4 Hours a Day is Coming" by American futurist Alex Sujeong Kim Bang

Regarding the opinion that the four-day workweek is generally discussed mainly for office workers, he pointed out this is a "misunderstanding," stating, "The biggest issue is not the difference between fieldwork and office work but the difference between predictable and unpredictable tasks." He cited an example of a U.S. pest control company, explaining that by improving task allocation software, employees doing pest control in the field reduced driving time and worked more efficiently, covering more areas during the four-day workweek period than they did over five days previously.

Bang emphasized, "At this point, adopting the four-day workweek is a matter of culture and implementation planning," stressing the importance of finding solutions for concrete operational methods such as corporate management and customer interactions. He particularly highlighted the need for a "pre-prepared operational plan" when introducing the four-day workweek. The process of creating a detailed plan itself enables flexible responses when various issues arise. He said, "When making a four-day workweek plan, it is valuable to consider how this rhythm can align with market or customer demands and how work can be fairly distributed among employees," adding, "Through this process, it is also meaningful for employees to ask how the company operates and propose ways to improve it."

Regarding criticism that reducing workdays forces employees to complete tasks faster within shorter hours, potentially harming their well-being, Bang responded, "It is important to give employees as much authority as possible to schedule their work themselves," adding, "This allows them to design their working hours appropriately when needed and feel in control of their work, reducing pressure." On concerns that the four-day workweek might weaken teamwork, he suggested methods such as designating days to have lunch together to facilitate interaction among employees.

"Korean Companies Quietly Adopting Four-Day Workweek"

Alex Sujeong Kim Bang, program manager at the nonprofit organization 'Four Day Week Global' and futurist in the United States

Bang, a second-generation Korean-American immigrant, has a strong interest in Korea. Before writing Shorter, he visited Korea to collect data and met with Kim Bong-jin, chairman of Woowa Brothers, which operates Baedal Minjok. At that time, unlike other domestic companies, Woowa Brothers had already prioritized implementing a 35-hour workweek. This year, Woowa Brothers further reduced working hours and is implementing a 32-hour workweek. Bang gave significant weight to his conversation with Chairman Kim in the opening chapter of Shorter and said he was inspired by Kim's "design thinking."

When asked if Korea hesitates more than other countries in adopting the four-day workweek, Bang replied, "I don't see it that way. Although a culture of long working hours and overwork clearly exists, many Korean companies are quietly moving to reduce weekly working hours," adding, "I have confirmed that these movements are starting in sectors with previously poor working conditions, such as software and restaurants."

Asked if there are plans to conduct large-scale four-day workweek experiments in Korea like those in the UK, Bang answered, "There are no plans at the moment." However, he mentioned Korea's need for more flexible work and shorter working hours, as well as the fact that the four-day workweek was discussed during the Seoul mayoral election and presidential campaigns, saying, "I believe Korea has great potential to conduct such experiments."

Editor's Note[Jjinbit] is short for 'Hyunjin Jeong's Business Trend' and 'Real Business Trend,' a corner that showcases trends in corporate management such as organizational culture and HR systems. Based on analyses from foreign media and major overseas institutions that have not received much attention so far, we will deliver fresh and differentiated information and perspectives.