When Bill Kowalcic first heard that his company Advanced RV was trying out a four-day workweek, he was filled with questions.
“All of us were a little nervous — like, are we going to be able to get our work done? Are we going to do OK? Is this going to hurt us?” says Kowalcic, a skilled craftsman who works in the finishing department.
A year and a half later, he has answers.
Not only has his team found shortcuts and time savers, he’s happier on the job.
“Gosh, it’s been great,” he says.
“I’ve never had a job where I’ve said this before, but at the end of the three-day weekend, I’m ready to come back in Monday morning.”
First, congrats on a new job and take it easy because “just started a job more physically demanding than I’m used to” is among the most common workplace injury situations. Second, physical work is in a lot of ways less mentally exhausting than desk work but (obviously) more physically demanding, and they can both be equally exhausting, especially in the day after day month after month grind. Decision fatigue is a real thing and workplace burnout has been growing for years.
Before I had kids, after taking into account travel to work, cooking, and cleaning, I usually had about 3 or so hours to myself a day. Once you add additional life responsibilities (kids, aging parents, disabled family, house repairs) it starts to add up.
Something can be both exhausting and also not slave hours. But I’m glad your happy with your work hours in your current circumstances.