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Global Study Confirms Benefits of Shorter Workweek
A comprehensive international study has demonstrated significant advantages of the four-day workweek model. Researchers Juliet Schor and Wen Fan led the six-month trial involving nearly 2900 employees across 141 organizations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, and the United States.
Improved Well-being and Productivity
Employees transitioning to a four-day workweek with maintained salary reported substantial improvements in mental and physical health, reduced burnout symptoms, and increased job satisfaction. Those reducing hours by eight or more weekly saw the most dramatic benefits. Researcher Wen Fan noted: "We observed significant increases in work capacity - employees' self-reported productivity measure."
Positive Business Outcomes
Beyond employee benefits, companies recorded encouraging metrics including increased revenue, reduced staff turnover, and lower absenteeism. Some organizations provided sector-specific data like improved customer satisfaction in call centers. While seasonal variations complicated direct comparisons, the overall business impact proved positive.
Implementation Challenges
The transition presented difficulties including increased work pressure during company-wide implementations involving restructuring. Men and older workers particularly struggled with work-life boundaries during the initial 1-2 month adjustment period. Researcher Fan explained: "Organization-wide reductions often introduce tighter deadlines and redistributed responsibilities."
Sustained Long-Term Benefits
Follow-up studies 6-12 months post-trial confirmed lasting improvements in health metrics and wellbeing. Burnout symptoms remained reduced, though job satisfaction slightly decreased while staying higher than pre-trial levels. Remarkably, participants worked five fewer hours weekly yet showed improved performance, attributed partly to reduced fatigue and better sleep patterns.
