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A PageGroup survey of 70,000 professionals found work-life balance is the greatest influencer of job satisfaction — and that 70% would choose it and their mental health over career success.
But really, why should you have to choose?
The pandemic sparked many changes, not least in the job market. After getting a taste of hybrid and remote work, millions began to rethink their careers.
Nearly 8 out of 10 people believe working one fewer day a week would improve their happiness and well-being. If you share this thought, you might be interested in the worldwide trials launched by 4 Day Week Global. The nonprofit organisation wanted to demonstrate that a fully-paid 4-day work week could redefine well-being and transform work-life balance, without negatively impacting productivity.
The 4 Day Work Week Experiment
The idea was simple: for 6 months, 33 companies around the world would follow 4 Day Week Global’s 100:80:100™ principle — which envisioned employees receiving 100% pay for 80% hours worked, while hitting 100% of productivity targets.
4 Day Work Week Pros and Cons
So far, the results have been positive. A resounding 97% of employees want to continue with a 4-day workweek, and on average, those who took part in the 4 day work week study rated their experience 9.1 out of 10. Employees reported:
- Improved work-life balance
- A decline in stress, burnout, fatigue and work/family conflict
- Better mental and physical health
- More general life satisfaction
Following encouraging results worldwide, trials of a 4 day work week in countries like Spain are continuing. After implementing a four day workweek, the city of Valencia found employees were less tired and stressed, happier, healthier and more personally satisfied.
The good news for workers is that following the trials, over 96% of companies worldwide are likely to stick with a 4-day working week. This isn't surprising, considering over the trial period, businesses:
- Maintained or increased productivity
- Boosted revenue by 8%
- Experienced a drop in absenteeism
- Saw a significant decline in resignations
While the findings are broadly positive, not every company that took part saw it as a success. In the UK, Allcap and Krystal found the shortened workweek created more demanding workdays that left employees stressed and exhausted. Another British company, Citizens Advice, faced challenges with scheduling and cited the complexity of their operations as a barrier to the long-term viability of a 4-day week.
Earlier 4 Day Workweek Research
Even before the recent trials, countries in Europe were exploring the potential of a four-day workweek. In 2015, Sweden tested a shorter working week with mixed results. Despite employees feeling less stress and enjoying a better work-life balance, employers had to hire more workers to make up for lost hours, and politicians ultimately decided it would be too expensive to implement on a larger scale.
Similar earlier programs were more successful in Iceland, where burnout and stress levels fell, and crucially for businesses, productivity stayed the same or improved. Costs for office expenses like electricity also dropped. Nowadays, 86% of workers in Iceland either work or have the option to work a shorter week.
Progressive Implications of a 4-Day Work Week
A shorter workweek could have a significant impact on both the environment and gender equity.
While current data supporting the green credentials of a 4-day workweek may be limited, there is cause for encouragement. During the recent trials in Valencia, air quality in the city improved due to a drop in commuting and the associated reduction of nitrogen dioxide emissions. Likewise, an earlier study in the United States found that reducing working hours by 10% could lead to an 8.6% decrease in an employee's carbon footprint.
Women bear a disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities, which may go some way to explaining why almost a third of women have considered reducing hours or leaving work in the last year — even if it meant compromising financial stability and sacrificing their careers.
Notably, during the recent trials, men found an extra day off gave them 22% more time to spend on childcare and 23% more time for housework, whereas women’s time on these responsibilities decreased.
The implications are clear: the introduction of a four-day workweek that doesn’t cut full-time pay could help address gender disparities and empower women in both their careers and caregiving roles.
With over 63% of Europe’s Fortune 500 companies making a commitment to gender equality, some believe the tides are finally turning. Learn more in our guide to getting to the top as a woman in tech.
The Future of 4-Day Work Week Companies
As Spain pushes ahead with more trials, businesses in the country have implemented a shorter working week with mixed results. Big hitters Telefonica and Desigual launched four-day models that were met with reluctance as they entailed reduced salaries. On the other hand, smaller companies like Simeon Capital and Good Rebels have benefited from an increase in productivity after giving employees a day off while keeping salaries unchanged.
Germany already has one of the shortest working weeks in Europe, but that hasn’t dampened employees’ desire for a 3-day weekend — and some companies are taking note. Ecosia, a green search engine company, gives one extra day off a week while reducing workers’ salaries by 20% accordingly. Measuring instruments supplier KRÜSS splits a 36-hour workweek over 4 days at full salary.
German-founded marketing platform Awin also provides an appealing arrangement. The company offers a four-day workweek with reduced work hours and no reduction in salary at its offices worldwide, which include 9 locations in continental Europe. Since implementing this policy, Awin has achieved a 13% average annual growth in profits.
In 2022, Belgium made history as the first European country to legislate for a four-day workweek. While the law guarantees employees face no reduction in salary, it implies full-time hours should be spread over four days — a practice that can lead to employee burnout. This highlights a significant concern surrounding the four-day workweek: despite recent trial findings, not all businesses are convinced they can reduce employee hours without suffering from a decrease in productivity.
With this in mind, it’s worth considering the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the working week. While many people are concerned about AI replacing their jobs, a recent study suggests that it could, in fact, lead to a reduction in working hours from 40 to 32 for 28% of the workforce. When utilized appropriately, AI may allow employees to work less while maintaining current levels of pay and performance. Microsoft founder Bill Gates takes this idea one step further, suggesting AI could eventually pave the way for a 3-day work week.
Are you interested in working in AI? Learn how to future-proof your career and find top artificial intelligence job opportunities.
The Key to a Better Work-Life Balance
Moving forward, more countries and companies are lining up to trial a four-day working week that both reduces hours and ensures a full salary. Portugal is the latest to begin the experiment, with a government-funded pilot that includes 39 private-sector organisations.
Across Europe, many employees and candidates feel they’ve seen enough evidence that a four-day workweek should become standard practice. If you believe a four-day workweek is right for you, there’s no better time to make the switch.
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