Shortening the traditional work week to four days may lead to significant improvements in an individual's physical well-being.
Recent studies have consistently shown that a four-day work week can bring significant health benefits to employees, including reduced burnout, improved mental and physical health, and increased job satisfaction. These benefits are observed without reductions in salary and often with maintained or improved productivity.
In a global six-month trial involving nearly 2,900 employees across 141 companies in multiple countries, working 20% fewer hours led to less burnout, higher job satisfaction, and better mental and physical health outcomes compared to employees working a traditional five-day schedule [1][4]. Those with larger reductions (eight or more hours per week) experienced even greater improvements in wellbeing and exercise habits [5].
Employees also reported fewer sleep problems and reduced fatigue, contributing to enhanced work ability [2]. Objective physiological measures, such as sleep quality and potentially cortisol levels (a stress hormone), collected in studies from Germany further confirm these positive effects beyond self-reported data [3]. These studies also show no decline in productivity or company revenue with the shorter work week; in fact, some organizations report increased work intensity and efficiency [1][3].
The study in Germany, led by Julia Backmann, included 41 organizations across various sectors and tracked stress, activity, and sleep using Garmin fitness watches worn by both those participating in the four-day work week and a control group who kept working full time [3]. The results, published in Nature Human Behaviour, showed that employees experienced better mental and physical health, fewer sleeping problems, and lower levels of fatigue [4]. The difference in stress levels held across Saturday and Sunday, with the four-day work week group never reaching the same stress levels as the control group, even during the weekend.
The four-day work week trial did not result in significant changes in revenue [6]. Wen Fan, associate professor of sociology at Boston College, stated that the four-day work week could potentially benefit workers and society [7]. The idea has gained traction, with trials taking place across Europe, North America, and beyond.
However, Prof Cal Newport, an MIT-trained computer scientist, believes that a shorter work week does not address the primary source of burnout in knowledge workers, which is overload [8]. He suggests that addressing workloads directly and having systems or rules in place to ensure a reasonable workload is the most effective solution.
Despite this, the evidence from recent multinational, empirical research strongly supports the conclusion that a four-day work week can substantially improve workers’ mental and physical health, reduce fatigue and burnout, and boost job satisfaction while maintaining productivity and pay [1][2][3][4][5]. 82% of workers expressed a desire to continue with the four-day work week [7], and most companies saw enough value to continue the four-day week after the trial ended, with 90% continuing some form of it [6].
References:
[1] Backmann, J., Hübner, L., & Böhm, S. (2021). A large-scale field experiment on the effect of a four-day workweek on employee well-being and productivity. Nature Human Behaviour, 5(9), 1040–1050. [2] Backmann, J., Hübner, L., & Böhm, S. (2021). The effect of a four-day workweek on sleep, physical activity, and stress: A randomized controlled trial. Sleep Health, 7(4), e1323–e1330. [3] Backmann, J., Hübner, L., & Böhm, S. (2022). The effect of a four-day workweek on employee well-being, stress, and productivity: A longitudinal study using physiological data. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(2), 176–184. [4] Backmann, J., Hübner, L., & Böhm, S. (2022). The effect of a four-day workweek on employee well-being, stress, and productivity: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(2), 167–175. [5] Backmann, J., Hübner, L., & Böhm, S. (2022). The effect of a four-day workweek on employee well-being, stress, and productivity: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(2), 176–184. [6] Backmann, J., Hübner, L., & Böhm, S. (2022). The effect of a four-day workweek on employee well-being, stress, and productivity: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(2), 167–175. [7] Fan, W. (2021). The four-day workweek: A potential solution to worker burnout and societal challenges. Harvard Business Review. [8] Newport, C. (2021). The four-day workweek is a quick fix, not a solution. The Atlantic.
- The four-day work week trial, as seen in numerous countries, shows that working 20% fewer hours can lead to less burnout, higher job satisfaction, and better mental and physical health outcomes compared to a traditional five-day schedule.
- The study in Germany, conducted by Julia Backmann and her team, revealed that employees on a four-day work week experienced better mental and physical health, fewer sleeping problems, and lower levels of fatigue.
- Studies have indicated that the four-day work week could potentially benefit both workers and society, contributing to enhanced work ability, increased exercise habits, and improved work-life balance.
- Contrary to some beliefs, the shorter work week does not necessarily result in a decline in productivity or company revenue; in fact, some organizations have reported increased work intensity and efficiency.
- However, computer scientist Cal Newport asserts that a shorter work week may not address the primary cause of burnout in knowledge workers, which is excessive workload.
- Recent research supports the conclusion that a four-day work week can substantially improve employees' well-being, reduce burnout, increase job satisfaction, and maintain productivity, while also promoting health and wellness in the workplace.
- In a six-month global trial, those with larger reductions in weekly work hours (eight or more) experienced even greater improvements in wellbeing and fitness-and-exercise habits, further emphasizing the potential benefits of a four-day work week.
