National ‘leave work at 4pm’ day is a thing – and it is today

This is not a drill

“Happy Friday” might just be the one of the most vexing – and undeniably passive aggressive – phrases to read in an email on the final day of the working week.

You’ve been waiting for this for four days, you’re educated enough to follow the days of the week without an unnecessarily chipper note.

Alas, today really will be a happy Friday thanks to “National 4pm Friday Finish Day."

You might be wondering where this nationwide day has come from – or what exactly gives it even the slightest bit of legitimacy – but it’s been all over our social feeds all day, so why not take it seriously?

Besides, whichever clock-watching slacker has managed to coerce their boss into thinking that their lethargy is symptomatic of an impending, and possibly legally binding, national holiday deserves some kudos.

Regardless of where it came from, the idea has swiftly taken off and employees everywhere are in cahoots with whoever decided to bring it to fruition, celebrating the fact that we can all start our weekends a little earlier than planned.

In actual fact, the #4pmFinish campaign was launched by Red Bull in 2017.

However, the energy drink giants explain on their website that the day “isn’t about slacking off,” but is actually intended to encourage productivity, one of the brand’s key messages.

The idea of working less to do more is a theory that’s been proven by science too, with studies proving the benefits of six-hour work days and revealing that employees who work longer hours are no more productive than those who stick to a typical 9-5.

Naturally, people are getting pretty excited on Twitter about the extra-long weekend, with a number of companies declaring their support of the big – or short – day ahead.

We'll see you at happy hour.