The concept of the four-day workweek is gaining traction globally, with two primary models emerging. One model proposes condensing the standard 40-hour workweek into four days, resulting in four ten-hour workdays. This approach has been adopted by Belgium, where employees can choose between a conventional five-day week or a shorter, more intense four-day week, with total work hours remaining unchanged. While only .8% of Belgian workers have adopted the four-day workweek, a survey by Acerta showed that 47.8% of 20-30 year-olds prefer it.
In contrast, the second model envisions completing 100% of the workload in just 80% of the time while maintaining full salary. This model has been tested in several countries. Iceland conducted a trial from 2015 to 2019 to assess the effectiveness of a shorter workweek with identical pay. Following Iceland’s lead, Spain is launching a similar trial this spring for small and medium-sized companies, where 30% of employees will work 10% less while retaining their original salary. France is also planning to test a 35-hour workweek over four days for public administration employees. Countries like New Zealand, Japan, and the United States are exploring shorter workweeks as well.
Advantages of a Four-Day Workweek
Various pilot projects have demonstrated positive effects of a four-day workweek. A British study published in 2023 found that employees experienced less stress and a lower risk of mental illnesses such as burnout. The study involved 61 companies with around 2,900 employees, most of whom reported decreased anxiety, fatigue, and sleep problems. The majority of these companies decided to maintain the four-day week, citing improved employee well-being as a primary reason.
Additionally, employees working four-day weeks called in sick less frequently. Occupational psychologist Hannah Schade from the Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University of Dortmund noted that reduced stress and adequate recovery time contributed to this decrease in sick days. This reduction in absenteeism is financially beneficial for companies, as it minimizes the impact of sick leave and mental health issues.
The four-day workweek also promotes greater equality. The British study found that men working four-day weeks were more involved in caregiving, such as looking after children or relatives. Furthermore, the four-day week could help address labor shortages by making jobs more attractive and increasing the number of applicants, particularly in fields where skilled workers are in high demand. This would allow families to better balance work and childcare responsibilities, enabling women to return to full-time work more easily.
Disadvantages of a Four-Day Workweek
However, the four-day workweek is not without its challenges. Economist Bernd Fitzenberger points out that compressing more work into fewer hours can increase stress. Belgium’s model, for example, requires employees to work 40 hours over four days, which can be intense. Alternatively, reducing working hours can lead to lower pay.
The business community remains skeptical about the four-day week due to difficulties in measuring productivity. Holger Schäfer from Cologne’s German Economic Institute (IW) notes that it is challenging to determine how a four-day week will impact productivity. Additionally, the four-day week could result in higher costs for companies if reduced hours are not offset by productivity gains.
Some industries may find the four-day workweek particularly challenging to implement, especially those requiring services to be provided at fixed times, such as nursing, security, or transportation. A rigid implementation across all industries could hurt competitiveness, according to Fitzenberger.
Despite these challenges, occupational psychologist Schade emphasizes the long-term benefits of fewer employees on sick leave, which could positively affect the economy. While change always entails risk and can trigger fears, a German survey from 2022 found that three-quarters of respondents would welcome a four-day week, particularly among employees younger than 40. The four-day workweek remains a popular and promising concept, albeit with some hurdles to overcome.