A six-day workweek could go over like ‘a lead balloon,’ says ResumeBuilder’s chief career adviser

Should we add another day to the workweek? That’s a hard pass from us.

Some organizations are considering moving to a six-day workweek model, despite the desire among many employees for greater work-life balance and even a four-day workweek, changes that are thought to have recruitment and retention benefits for employers.

What’s happening? Almost one in 10 of the 753 business leaders surveyed by ResumeBuilder in April said they expect their employees to work a six-day workweek as soon as next year. One in six believe employees should work more than 40 hours a week, and 60% of leaders expect a six-day workweek to increase revenue. Stacie Haller, chief career adviser at ResumeBuilder, said that 64% of the respondents were male, and said this demographic can be “less likely to fight for work-life balance.”

The ResumeBuilder survey was inspired by the April news that tech giant Samsung was mandating a six-day workweek for its executive team, Haller said.

“Some…Asian [companies] are looking at that but only for their senior executives, who they want to monitor the global business,” she continued. “But I didn’t see anybody instituting it for the rank and file.”

Zoom out. Many employees are craving greater flexibility and work-life balance from employers, with some even regarding work-life balance as more important than pay. And HR pros who prioritize work-life balance may be more likely to see higher employee retention rates.

Indeed, 48% of the 35,000 global employees surveyed by Randstad in 2023 said they would quit a job if it “prevented them from enjoying their life.” Considering the positive impact positive work-life balance can have on employees and employers, a six-day workweek may seem like a step in the wrong direction.

Looking back on the decades of experience she has as a recruiter, career counselor, and job search coach, Haller said she never once had someone tell her they were looking to work more hours.

“If there are [employers] thinking that people want to work more…I think that’s going over like a lead balloon,” Haller said.