Three-Day Work Week Is NYC Mayor's Answer To Office COVID Fears

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams floated upending the five-day work week to entice workers back to New York City's mostly empty office buildings amid a staggering COVID-19 surge.

"I say, let's start out with a three-day week to let people see how safe it is to come back to work," he said Thursday on CNBC. "Then we cycle back into a five-day week. We can do this within a three-week period and be up and operating in our city."

Adams' proposal fits into a developing theme during his first week in office — New York City needs to stay open even as the omicron coronavirus variant pushes daily cases to record-breaking highs.

The city saw 46,158 cases detected on Wednesday alone, according to the governor's office.

The surge has rattled many New Yorkers and prompted calls for Adams to temporarily return schools to remote learning.

Adams, however, remained adamant that the city's businesses and institutions can safely remain open. He said on CNBC that vaccinations, booster shots and other steps undertaken in a "smart, scientific way" will keep New Yorkers safe.

In response to a question whether corporations should bring their employees back to office, Adams gave an emphatic response.

"Yes, yes, yes," he said. "It's time to get back to work. COVID is here, we have to learn to live with it in a smart way because it is even dangerous to keep our economy closed."