You get what you expect: assessing the effect of a compressed work schedule on time pressure, fatigue, perceived productivity, and work-life balance

Abstract

With a refreshed surge of interest in alternative work schedules, such as the compressed workweek, as a tool to increase employer attractiveness, the question of the effects of such work arrangements recurs. In light of inconsistent research findings, we examined the effects of the implementation of a four-day compressed workweek on time pressure, fatigue, perceived productivity, and work-life balance within a construction company. Moreover, we investigated the effect of employee expectations. Drawing on longitudinal data (N = 247) and using Latent Change Score Modelling (LCSM), we found that work-life balance increased while fatigue and time pressure decreased. Three months after implementing a compressed work schedule, perceived productivity remained stable. These effects were contingent on individuals’ expectations regarding the effect of the compressed schedule. The results highlight the importance of employee expectations in shaping the outcomes of the adoption of alternative work schedules.