The Times They Are A-Changin’

Plainville institutes the four-day workweek permanently

In a continuing sign of the changing times, the Town of Plainville is, well, changing times. After a successful six-month pilot program, the town has announced that it is officially adopting a four-day work week for certain municipal departments.

Offices in the Municipal Center, the Recreation Department, and Youth Services department will all be operating on a four-day schedule with the permanent hours of Monday – Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This works out to be 37 hours of open time for these departments, which is the same as it was before they adopted the shortened week. According to the IRS, the legal full-time hours start at 32 hours.

In addition to the longer hours, the press release from the town says that they will be looking to “expand online services.” These areas include paying taxes and applying for building and fire permits. In fact, many people have come to expect more things to be offered online in order to avoid having to go anywhere, especially after social distancing during the pandemic.

“We are excited to officially implement the four-day work week schedule following the success of our pilot program,” said Town Manager Michael Paulhus. “This forward-thinking approach reflects our commitment to better serve both our residents and employees, enhancing their experience with the Town of Plainville.”

Several services are not going to be impacted by these changes. They include the Senior Center, the Library, Public Safety (Fire, Police, EMS), Public Works, Trash & Recycling Collection and Transfer Station, Parks, and summer camps, Berner Pool, Splash Pad, and other recreational programs.

Plainville is not the first town to adopt a four-day workweek, but it is part of a growing trend. Each time a town or city adopts this new schedule, another report is released suggesting how popular the idea is among employees and the benefits for the organization or company that adopts them. A 2023 Morning Consult survey said that nearly 90% of workers in the United States would be interested in this type of schedule.

The MIT Sloan Review wrote about one case study: In one of the largest studies of the four-day workweek, 61 companies in the UK trialed the schedule and found that the “four-day workweek significantly increased job satisfaction, improved work-life balance, and reduced employee stress. The results also showed improved product quality and customer service, and a significant reduction in absences and sick days.”

It is hard to argue that the idea isn’t spreading. Towns and cities, whole states, whole countries are doing trials of the four-day workweek and finding pretty much the same results wherever they go – it simply works. The Town of Plainville is taking that next step and making it a permanent addition.