Four-Day Workweek Trials Show Productivity Gains
Companies report improved outcomes with reduced working hours.
Large-scale trials of four-day workweeks are reporting remarkable results: maintained or improved productivity alongside dramatic improvements in employee well-being. The findings challenge fundamental assumptions about work time and productivity.
Companies in the trials redesigned workflows to eliminate inefficiencies. Meetings became shorter and more focused, email volume decreased, and employees worked with greater intentionality.
Worker satisfaction scores increased across all measured dimensions. Employees reported better work-life balance, reduced stress, and improved mental and physical health.
Environmental benefits emerged as an unexpected positive outcome. Reduced commuting lowered carbon emissions, while office energy consumption decreased with shorter operating weeks.
Skeptics worry about customer service and coverage gaps, but participating companies developed solutions including staggered schedules and technology-enabled support systems.
