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How to Pitch a 4-Day Workweek to Your Boss
And how to make the most of that extra day
Maybe you’ve always been curious. Who wouldn’t be? Work four days a week instead of five and get an extra day to relax, pursue a side hustle, or do whatever the heck you want? I’ve been lucky enough to have had four-day workweeks in my most recent three jobs. It hasn’t always been seamless, but the schedule has allowed me to earn multiple income streams, maintain a good work-life balance, and feel more present and energized while at the office.
Of course, convincing your manager to let you work four days a week requires a solid strategy, especially if no one at your company has ever been granted the same perk. Here’s my best advice for making the pitch, establishing your new routine, and ultimately getting the most out of what could be your ideal work schedule.
Think about who else the change would affect
A four-day workweek might be amazing for you, but if you consider only your own needs when pitching it, you’ll probably fall short. Before making the case for a shortened week in my current role, I thought about each person this shift would affect. My goal was to have a plan for every issue that could arise and make sure no one would be negatively impacted.
