Working five days a week has long been the corporate cultural norm. But some companies are exploring the option of letting employees work four days a week. The chief executive of an organization that promotes the idea says they're hoping to reduce workplace burnout and retain talent seeking a better work-life balance. Dale Whelehan is CEO of 4 Day Week Global, which coaches companies through the process of shortening their employees' work hours. Whelehan says five-day workweeks weren't designed for jobs requiring a lot of thinking and sitting, and that one less day doing that improves mental and physical health.

Recently, California became the first U.S. state to push back school start times when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will require middle…