Studies of four-day workweeks in the U.S. and Europe have found positive results for employee well-being and productivity. But the idea of adopting a shorter workweek is still percolating for many CEOs, who are trying to understand how it would work and whether it would drive down costs by creating healthier work environments.
Companies that have tried the four-day workweek find that its success is driven by these efficiencies:
- Meetings last 30 minutes and start on time.
- Focus time is blocked off on calendars — some companies have even declared "Monk-Mode Mondays."
- Employees are encouraged to be more mindful of emails and how much time they spend going through inboxes.
"It's brilliant for retention," says Nicci Russell, CEO of London-based Waterwise, part
of one pilot. In the
U.K., most firms that were part of a four-day workweek trial are sticking with it, and more than half have made it permanent. Pilot studies in Spain, Portugal and South Africa suggest that
shorter workweeks help employees reduce burnout, manage stress, get more sleep and exercise, spend additional quality time with loved ones and feel happier and healthier. Employers see lower
rates of turnover and absenteeism. In Spain, a study tracked a drop in fuel emissions due to fewer commuting trips. Overall results show that employee performance stays consistent and that
absences for illness fall.
Some companies see the four-day workweek going hand in hand with artificial intelligence. Generative AI can automate mundane tasks to manage workloads, which relieves stress and makes employees more efficient.
Some workers report feeling burned out because they have to cram the same amount of work into less time. Some feedback shows that there can also be problems managing client and stakeholder expectations, meaning that there needs to be better external communications and more flexibility when it comes to adopting a shorter workweek. Additionally, the four-day workweek, which seems natural for office jobs, may not work in all industries. But employers in fields ranging from hospitality to law enforcement have seen success with shortened schedules.
What does a four-day workweek look like?
There's no one-size-fits-all four-day workweek. Some companies use a rolling schedule, some use a schedule with three full and two half days, and some still have their employees work five days but for shorter hours, which, for example, allows employees to drop off and pick up their children from school.
What do workers say? Reactions include:
- "Having Friday off makes me want to work harder and more intentionally the other days of the week. I believe the shorter workweek makes me better at my job."
- "Having a weekday to call the doctor, clean the house or run errands means I can enjoy the weekend fully."
- "As a Muslim, having Friday off means I can better support my spiritual well-being."
- "I use my three-day weekends to catch up on sleep."
- "Having extra time to myself 100% helps me manage stress."
The four-day workweek seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. Lawmakers in Maryland, Massachusetts, Hawaii and California are introducing bills to encourage four-day workweeks.