A four-day work week significantly enhances employee performance, reduces burnout, and improves both physical and mental health, provided there is no reduction in income. These findings emerge from a new peer-reviewed study published in Nature Human Behaviour, which monitored the effects of a shortened work week over six months.
The study involved 2,896 employees from 141 organizations across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Participants completed surveys before and after the trial period, and their responses were compared with those of 285 employees from 12 companies who continued with a traditional five-day work week.
Researchers noted that during the trial, average weekly working hours decreased by approximately five hours. Despite some limitations, such as the self-selection of participating companies, the study underscores the potential benefits of a four-day work week as a cornerstone for the future of work.
Implications for the Future of Work
The report’s authors assert that their findings could guide future interventions aimed at better organizing paid work and enhancing worker well-being, especially in light of the rapid expansion of digital, automation, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Associate Professor Libby Sander, who specializes in the future of work, emphasized that four-day work week trials often focus on optimizing time management within organizations. In Australia, where people are working longer hours than ever, this could address a national productivity slump highlighted by the Productivity Commission.
“Some of the things they look at to reduce are how many meetings are we having,” Dr. Sander from Bond University explained. “They could have been an email, they could have been done some other way, or they don’t need the number of people that are in those meetings.”
“When you work longer and longer hours, productivity doesn’t just continue upwards; it falls off a cliff pretty dramatically.” — Dr. Libby Sander
Reframing Work: From Hours to Outcomes
As the federal government’s productivity round table approaches, discussions are expected to explore the role of AI and other technologies in reshaping work. Dr. Rowena Ditzell from the University of Technology Sydney sees this as an opportunity to shift focus from hours worked to outcomes achieved.
“The ideal worker is traditionally seen as someone whose primary devotion is to work, signaled by their visible presence,” Dr. Ditzell noted. “Ideas like the four-day week challenge this notion by showing that efficiency, not presence, should be the priority.”
Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the University of New South Wales AI Institute, likens the potential impact of AI on work to that of the industrial revolution. He emphasizes the importance of implementing systems that benefit both businesses and their employees.
“We’re going through another equally transformative moment where we introduce technologies like AI to further automate significant chunks of work.” — Professor Toby Walsh
Historical Context and Support
The study’s research was supported by the US National Science Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, and Boston College Ignite Grant, with additional support for the Irish trial from the Forsa trade union. Historically, transformative periods like the industrial revolution introduced measures such as the weekend, universal education, and pension systems, which significantly improved worker welfare.
As the conversation around work continues to evolve, the four-day work week stands out as a promising model for enhancing productivity and well-being in a rapidly changing world.
