Which statement best describes the effects of a compressed work week?

Which statement best describes the effects of a compressed work week?

• A. Job satisfaction increases; performance is not affected
• B. Job satisfaction decreases; performance increases
• C. Both job satisfaction and performance increase
• D. No change in job satisfaction or performance

Answer: (A)

A compressed work week often leads to higher job satisfaction because employees gain more time off and reduced commuting, which improves work-life balance and perceived control over their schedules. Performance tends to stay about the same because the total amount of work completed in a week can be maintained even with longer daily hours, as workers adapt and productivity per day can remain stable. So the combination of more personal time with no systematic drop in output is the most commonly observed pattern. Of course, individual situations matter—fatigue on longer days can eventually influence performance, and effects may vary by job type—but overall this pairing of increased satisfaction with neutral performance best fits typical findings.

A compressed work week often leads to higher job satisfaction because employees gain more time off and reduced commuting, which improves work-life balance and perceived control over their schedules. Performance tends to stay about the same because the total amount of work completed in a week can be maintained even with longer daily hours, as workers adapt and productivity per day can remain stable. So the combination of more personal time with no systematic drop in output is the most commonly observed pattern. Of course, individual situations matter—fatigue on longer days can eventually influence performance, and effects may vary by job type—but overall this pairing of increased satisfaction with neutral performance best fits typical findings.