Reducing the workweek to four days could have significant benefits for the health and well-being of employees, according to a new international study conducted in six countries.
The pilot program involved about 2,900 employees from 141 organizations in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They reduced their working hours by about 20%, without taking a pay cut.
Before the experiment began, the companies underwent a two-month training period to improve work organization and efficiency. Then, over the course of six months, a four-day work week or a reduced schedule was implemented.
The results showed that employees reported less burnout, better mental and physical health, and greater job satisfaction. The researchers noted that the more the working hours were reduced, the greater the benefits for employees' well-being.
According to the analysis, the benefits are mainly related to a greater sense of control over work, improved sleep quality, and reduced daily stress.
Most participating companies decided to continue the model a year after the project began, and researchers found no decline in employee productivity or well-being.
Expert Brendan Burchell from the University of Cambridge called the study a "turning point", saying it provides the strongest evidence to date that the four-day week can be successfully implemented in various organizations.
Meanwhile, more and more countries, such as Spain, Poland, Iceland, Germany and Portugal, are considering or testing reduced workweek models as a way to combat stress, depression and professional burnout.
