A major international study has confirmed the benefits of a four-day workweek without a pay cut. The experiment involved 2,896 employees from 141 companies in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Over six months, the companies reduced working time by 20% while also streamlining processes: they cut routine tasks and unnecessary meetings.
As a result, the average workweek fell from 39 to 34 hours. Employees reported a significant reduction in burnout, better sleep and mental health, as well as higher job satisfaction. The positive effect was especially strong among those who were able to reduce their personal workload more substantially.
The researchers stress that success depends not only on shorter hours, but also on changing the way work is organized. In the context of a global rethinking of work habits after the pandemic, such findings are becoming especially relevant. More and more companies and governments are looking for new formats in which the balance between work and personal life ceases to be a luxury and becomes the norm.
