The modern office is changing. While arriving at an office building in business casual attire used to be the norm, employees are now opting to log on to their remote jobs from the comfort of their own homes throughout the world.
Employers, too, are looking for ways to attract the modern workforce by providing unique employee benefits that prioritize employee mental health and wellness. Enter the four-day workweek.
Some global companies are starting to test out four-day work weeks to see how it impacts their employees’ health, productivity, and engagement. While this model is fairly new, many business experts are already seeing it as the way of the future.
We’ve put together a guide to the pros and cons of a four-day workweek and considerations to make before implementing one in your office.
What is a 4-day workweek?
A four-day workweek means your workforce only works four days out of the week, usually Monday to Thursday. Some companies shorten the entire workweek altogether, allowing employees to still work eight-hour days for a total of 32 hours per week.
Other companies, however, have employees work 10 hours per day Monday through Thursday, which means employees still work 40 hours per week.
Some companies are also implementing shorter hours per week, but still spread out over five days. This could mean that employees work six hours per day instead of eight, totaling 30 per week.
Latest trends and statistics on 4-day workweeks
The four-day workweek has been gaining traction worldwide in 2024. KPMG's 2024 U.S. CEO Outlook Pulse Survey reveals that about 30% of large U.S. companies are experimenting with new work schedules, including the four-day workweek. This trend is not confined to the U.S.; it’s making waves globally.
In the U.K., a major trial involving 61 companies delivered impressive results. After the trial, 92% of these companies decided to adopt the four-day workweek permanently, highlighting its potential for widespread adoption across various countries and industries.
Employee satisfaction with the four-day workweek has been overwhelmingly positive. According to a World Economic Forum report, 90% of employees who tried the four-day workweek were eager to continue, rating their experience 9.1 out of 10. In the U.K., 97% of trial participants want the four-day workweek to become a permanent fixture.
Productivity results are also encouraging. In the U.K. trial, 85% of employers found that productivity either stayed the same or improved with the four-day workweek. Similarly, Microsoft Japan’s four-day workweek experiment resulted in a 40% increase in productivity.
Globally, employee well-being has seen notable improvements. The U.K. trial showed that 39% of professionals felt less stressed, while research from Henley Business School found that up to 78% of employees felt happier and less stressed after shifting to a four-day workweek.
What are the benefits of a 4-day workweek?
A four-day workweek helps employees feel more relaxed, motivated, and engaged. This means that the workforce is happier while also producing more, better-quality work.
Increased employee happiness
An extra weekend day makes employees happier. Not only does it reduce the amount of time per week they spend working to combat burnout, but it also gives employees more time to prioritize things that make them happy or that they need.
With more time to travel, complete to-do list items, spend time with family or friends, or do other things to prioritize their mental health, employees become happier at work and beyond. Setting employees up for success and making them feel valued should always be a top-priority goal for leaders.
Adelle Archer, Founder of Eterneva, said switching to a four-day workweek has increased employee satisfaction:
“In switching to a four-day work week, our employees are able to get an early start on their weekends, which frees time for recreational and personal activities, and even opens days that they are able to receive mental health and other personal services. This has led to a dramatic increase in our employee satisfaction, and our retention rates.”
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Decreased business expenses
Unless your office is already fully remote, a four-day workweek helps lower your business overhead. Closing the office for one additional day per week saves you money on supplies and utilities.
Mike Chappell of FormsPal said a four-day workweek has a significant impact on cost. He said keeping an office has some unexpected costs that can be eased in part by dropping a day off the workweek:
“It's not uncommon for office bills, staff perks, commuter advantages, and competitive pay to add up to a significant sum. On top of that, add to your total expenses the cost of providing complimentary lunches, happy hours, and any other charges that help develop your company's culture.”
Increased productivity
In companies that have switched to four-day workweeks, employees are typically more motivated to work and better at managing the time they are in the office. This means that though employees are logged on fewer hours per week, they’re using the time they are working more productively.
Robert Scott of Sell Land said employees produce better work when they have more time to rest:
"We have observed that our employees have been more productive and efficient when it comes to their work. Since they only now have four days to complete weekly deliverables, they have been wiser in using their time and can complete their tasks with a good or better quality. Moreover, since they are more rested when the week starts, we can also see their motivation to work improve.”
Fewer wasted hours
Americans waste about two hours of every eight-hour workday. The two biggest time wasters are surfing the internet and chatting with coworkers. When moving to a four-day workweek, employees are more engaged during the workday and less likely to waste time at work.
James Watts of Own the Grill said employee engagement has increased since his company adopted a four-day workweek:
“Everyone is far more productive and energetic than they used to be, which has seen our profit and engagement metrics go through the roof and it just feels like a much happier place to work than it was when we were adhering to the traditional Monday to Friday model. And at the end of the day, who could ask for, or want more than that?”
Employee well-being
A four-day workweek can significantly boost employee well-being physically and financially. With an extra day off, employees have more time for exercise, relaxation, and preparing healthy meals. This can lead to better overall health and lower stress levels, potentially reducing the number of sick days and boosting energy at work.
Financially, a shorter workweek can help employees save on commuting costs and other work-related expenses. The improved work-life balance often encourages more thoughtful spending, as people have time to plan meals and avoid convenience purchases. Plus, some use their extra day to explore personal projects or earn extra income outside their primary careers.
Benjamin Laker, a professor at the Henley Business School and a key researcher in the U.K. trial mentioned above, highlighted these findings from the study:
“Work-life balance improved in many ways. Specifically, it became easier for 54% of employees to balance their jobs with household duties and responsibilities. In addition, satisfaction regarding both financial stability and relationships increased due to people’s ability to better manage the amount of time allotted for each activity.”
What are the disadvantages of a 4-day workweek?
Four-day workweeks are still relatively new, which means many businesses are trying them out for the first time. This leads to some confusion for office workers.
Scheduling hiccups
When one day of the workweek becomes unavailable, it is more difficult to schedule impromptu meetings or collaborative sessions. Sometimes, it’s even hard to schedule check-ins or one-on-one meetings without pushing your employees past their working hours.
There will be limited days to schedule training sessions, brainstorms, or other crucial meetings, and still reasonably expect your employees to get their work done.
Potential burnout
Depending on your business model and product, you will have to keep up with customer requests and demands. In those scenarios, a four-day workweek can actually add stress. If you shave a day off the week, your employees have one less day to meet their deadlines, which would actually mean more work and potential burnout.
Chris Gadek of AdQuick said business leaders need to consider how a four-day workweek will impact their offices:
“While implementing a 4-day workweek is an excellent strategy to help employees achieve a healthy work-life balance, our team members regularly work extended hours to keep up with customer demands. For this reason, we're concerned that such intensive workdays will offset their healthy balance for most of the week, leaving them feeling exhausted and leading to burnout. So, we may have to look into new systems and processes to improve our team members' time management and the efficiency at which they get their work done.”
Doesn’t work for every business or employee
Some industries are unable to adopt a four-day workweek. Businesses that provide services or time-sensitive products won’t be able to have their entire office closed one day of the workweek. These companies might still be interested in providing innovative perks but won’t be able to provide the same shortened workweeks that non-service jobs do.
Even at companies that adopt a four-day workweek, some employees will not enjoy that model. When Lily Wili of Everwallpaper implemented a four-day workweek where employees worked longer hours for four days in exchange for Friday off, some employees didn’t want to opt in.
“The schedule change becomes untenable with their family situations, schools, children's clubs, and activities,” she said. “In fact, while the employees were able to achieve great results in terms of output for the duration of the 4 longer days—over the course of a month or so, the team morale became increasingly worse. This meant we shifted the trial to an opt-in model which fared far better results.”
Less face time with colleagues
Some people enjoy the camaraderie of an office. Especially for remote teams, communication with your team makes you feel more integrated in your workplace. When you remove a day from the workweek, employees that enjoy going into the office or communicating virtually with their teams will start to feel isolated from their colleagues.
Which countries have a 4-day workweek?
Many countries throughout the globe have adopted some sort of shortened workweek. The following countries are some of the first or most comprehensive ones leading the charge.
Iceland
From 2015 to 2019, Iceland introduced a 35- to 36-hour workweek. Many businesses noticed increased happiness and productivity within their teams, and the trial was deemed an “overwhelming success.” As a result, the vast majority of Iceland’s workforce is now working reduced hours.
Main takeaways: Iceland’s shortened work week trial allowed employers to decide how they broke down hours. This could mean every Friday is a half day, or every single day Monday through Friday is shortened by one or two hours.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the first country in the world to formally cut the workweek back to four and a half days. In the UAE, the weekend officially starts midway on Friday and lasts until Monday morning.
This is also a shift from the UAE’s previous weekend—where Friday and Saturday were the weekend days—which was more aligned with the workweek in majority-Muslim countries.
Main takeaways: The shift in the workweek is part of an ongoing push to make the UAE a more attractive place for workers and residents. As many workers want to see a reduction in the workweek, the formal step in that direction is an advantage.
Belgium
In 2022, Belgium began allowing employees to work four days per week so long as they work the same amount of hours as a five day work week. This means that Belgian workers spread their 40 hours over Monday through Thursday in exchange for a three-day weekend.
This is an optional program for employees who want to work more hours per day to have a longer weekend and whose employers allow them to participate.
Main takeaways: A four-day workweek doesn’t necessarily mean a reduction in hours. Some employees are willing to work longer days in exchange for a longer weekend.
Spain
Spain launched a pilot program in 2021 involving around 200 companies, offering participants a 32-hour workweek without reducing wages. The government provided financial support to companies participating in the trial.
Main takeaways: The program aims to boost productivity and improve work-life balance. Results are still being evaluated, but initial reports suggest positive outcomes for both employees and employers.
Japan
While not a nationwide policy, Japan has been encouraging companies to adopt a four-day workweek. Notable companies like Panasonic have implemented optional four-day workweeks for employees.
Main takeaways: The Japanese government sees the four-day workweek as a potential solution to address the country's notorious work culture and improve work-life balance.
New Zealand
Several companies in New Zealand have experimented with four-day workweeks, most notably Perpetual Guardian, which made the change permanent after a successful trial in 2018.
Main takeaways: The trials in New Zealand have shown increased productivity and improved employee well-being, inspiring other companies and countries to consider flexible work models.
Other countries experimenting with 4-day workweeks
Around the globe, several countries are testing or implementing four-day workweek initiatives. Here are some notable examples:
- Lithuania. In 2022, Lithuania passed a law allowing public-sector employees with children under three to work 32 hours a week, effectively offering this group a four-day workweek option.
- Portugal. In 2023, Portugal launched a six-month, government-supported trial involving 39 companies to examine how reduced working hours affect productivity and employee well-being.
- United Kingdom. As noted above, the U.K. conducted a successful large-scale trial in 2022 with 61 companies and over 3,300 employees. After the trial, 92% of participating companies continued the four-day workweek.
- Germany. In February 2024, 45 companies kicked off Germany’s first national four-day workweek pilot, marking a significant step in exploring this model.
- France. France also joined the movement in 2024, launching its first national four-day workweek pilot, reflecting a growing interest in alternative work schedules.
- Denmark. While Denmark hasn’t officially adopted a four-day workweek, it boasts one of the shortest average workweeks in Europe at around 37 hours and is recognized for its flexible work culture.
- Canada. Numerous Canadian companies are experimenting with or implementing four-day workweeks, and some provinces are considering legislation to support shorter workweeks.
- Scotland. The Scottish government is exploring the possibility of a nationwide four-day workweek trial for government employees, receiving strong backing from trade unions.
These initiatives illustrate a rising global interest in alternative work schedules. Each country’s approach varies—from government-backed trials to individual company experiments—showcasing the diverse ways the four-day workweek concept is being explored.
Understand the needs of today's workforce
Businesses looking to provide new, unique benefits to their employees should start considering a four-day workweek. But that's not the only change today's talent wants to see in the workplace. Download our guide to learn what employees around the world value at work.
Or contact Velocity Global today to learn how we can help you attract and retain top talent across borders.
