The pandemic forced businesses to reevaluate how, where and when employees work. New research has found that the long-discussed four-day workweek may be an idea whose time has come.

"Driven by the ever-increasing march of automation, the working week has evolved from six or even seven days a week in the early 1800s to today's 40-hour, five-day week," said Josh Bersin, CEO of the Josh Bersin Co. "Now, driven by highly connected new work tools, the world is shifting toward an even more flexible environment — four days of scheduled work, eight hours per day."

A four-day week can be a practical and powerful model, according to research by the Josh Bersin Co. and the Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence. The study points to three important innovations: Measuring work through outcomes instead of more time-based metrics; introducing practices to boost employee focus and productivity; and leaders fostering a new approach to flexibility and employee autonomy.