Friday WFH Seen as Pathway to Four-Day Workweek, Sociologist Highlights Conditions

The proposal for work-from-home (WFH) on Fridays is viewed as a potential gateway to a four-day workweek system, though its implementation cannot merely involve shifting work from the office to home. Sociologist from Universitas Nasional (Unas), Nia Elvina, M.Si., stated that the WFH policy could have positive impacts if accompanied by a clear performance measurement system. According to her, work flexibility must be balanced with measurable work quality, especially for civil servants or ASN. “I think the WFH policy could be the initial step towards a sufficient four-day work system, but the quality must be more measurable,” said Nia when contacted by Kompas.com on Wednesday (6/5/2026). She noted that several studies show that excessive working hours can lead to various social issues, including weakened family ties. “From several studies, many problems arise due to excessive working hours, such as weakened bonds within the family, for example between husband and wife, father and child, mother and child, and with the extended family,” said Nia. In this context, Friday WFH can be understood not only as a technical policy but also as a space to rearrange the balance between work and family life. Time not spent on commuting can provide opportunities for workers to be closer to their families, as long as the work continues according to targets. Workers who are still single may also experience strained relationships with their extended families due to limited time together. “For those who are still single, relationships with the extended family also become strained due to minimal time with the extended family,” said Nia. This statement indicates that the discussion on Friday WFH is not only related to office productivity but also to the quality of workers’ social relations outside of work. For some people, work flexibility can be an opportunity to reclaim time that has been taken by office routines and commuting.