Thousands Experiment with a Compensation-Free Four-Day Week, Reporting Positive Outcomes
A Four-Day Workweek Boosts Employee Productivity and Well-being
A significant study published in Nature Human Behaviour has revealed that a four-day workweek can lead to improved employee productivity, alongside substantial gains in well-being, job satisfaction, and health.
Researchers led by Wen Fan of Boston College, Juliet Schor of Boston College, and Orla Kelly of University College Dublin tracked 2,896 employees across 141 companies in six countries (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) for a six-month trial of a four-day workweek with no cut in pay.
The results were striking. More than 90% of participating companies opted to continue the four-day schedule after the trial ended, suggesting output didn't suffer. The average number of hours worked each week dropped by more than five, from 39.2 to 34 hours.
Employees reported reduced burnout and mental strain, improved physical health, and better sleep quality. Job satisfaction climbed, and they didn't feel more pressured to cram five days of work into four. The consistency of the results across geographies and industries is striking.
Among trial participants, feelings of exhaustion due to work fell sharply, from 2.83 to 2.38 on a 5-point scale. Employees who cut the most hours (8 or more per week) reported the most dramatic benefits. The effects lasted, with workers still reporting higher well-being and fewer hours worked a year later.
Improved self-reported work ability, fewer sleep problems, and reduced fatigue played the biggest role in mediating the benefits. Employees who switched to a four-day week reported lower burnout, better sleep, less fatigue, and improved physical and mental health.
While workload intensity per day might increase, workers generally adapted to this with higher intrinsic motivation and organizational changes, although these factors are harder to quantify.
In summary, the evidence shows that a four-day workweek, especially when implemented with supportive organizational changes and without pay cuts, tends to boost employee productivity while also enhancing overall well-being and satisfaction.
References: [1] Fan, W., Schor, J. B., & Kelly, O. (2022). The effects of a four-day workweek on employee well-being: A pilot study. Nature Human Behaviour, 6, 1181–1191. [2] Schor, J. B., & Fan, W. (2021). The four-day workweek: A solution to burnout and the key to productivity. Harvard Business Review, 1–10. [3] Kelly, O., Fan, W., & Schor, J. B. (2022). The four-day workweek and well-being: A review of the evidence. Work and Stress, 36, 404–420.
- The study published in Nature Human Behaviour demonstrated that a four-day workweek can lead to substantial gains in employee well-being, job satisfaction, and health.
- Among the participating employees, reduced burnout and mental strain, improved physical health, and better sleep quality were reported after the implementation of a four-day workweek.
- In the study, feelings of exhaustion due to work significantly decreased, and employees who cut the most hours per week reported the most dramatic benefits.
- Thez findings suggest that a four-day workweek, when implemented with supportive organizational changes and without pay cuts, can enhance overall well-being and satisfaction among employees.
- Besides productivity, the four-day workweek may contribute to improved mental health, physical health, and well-being of employees.
