4 Day Work Week - exploring the possibilities and impact of a four-day working week
An exploration of how reduced work time could impact the physical and mental health of workers as well as the economic and functional impact on organisations.
The last 30 years have seen dramatic changes in society. The technology we use, the speed in which we communicate, the types of jobs that we do, the length of our lives, and the roles of women at work and home have all shifted. Yet the working world is largely still organised the same way it has been since the mid 20th century. The 4 Day Work Week (4DWW) project explored if a change in the structure of the working week could be a more efficient and sustainable way of organising work in the 21st century. It also probed whethera shorter working week could be mutually beneficial for workers, business and the economy alike.
Key research questions
The aim of this project was to measure the impact of reduced work time on the physical and mental health of workers, as well as the economic and functional impact on organisations. How do companies implement a four-day week? What are the main difficulties and benefits?
How was the research conducted?
The project saw over forty companies in Portugal embark on a government-funded pilot program of a four-day week for six months. Participating companies committed to reducing weekly hours while maintaining full pay for employees. We tracked the experience of companies during the trial to determine the economic, societal, and environmental implications of the four-day week.
This included measuring the impact of reduced work time on the physical and mental health of workers, as well as the economic and functional impact on organisations.
Using surveys
For companies, we had an initial survey asking the reasons for their interest in the 4DWW project and an intermediate survey during the pilot inquiring about the implementation. For workers, we ran a survey before the pilot, one after three months and one after six months, in line with the international pilots.
Having a wide breadth of participants
Recruitment of participating companies was open to all private sector firms in Portugal, and those that took part in the study came from a wide range of sectors. While most participating firms were engaged in professional, scientific and technical activities, the trial also included a nursery, a care home, a stem cells bank, a research and development centre, and firms from manufacturing, retail, and not-for-profit sectors.
Establishing methods of best practice for logistics and communication
The Portuguese government did not give any subsidy to the companies, but provided technical services, in partnership with 4 Day Week Global, a not-for-profit organization, to support the transition to the four-day working week. These included weekly sessions that started three months prior to the trial, to help companies define the format of the four-day week, establish measures to evaluate the success of the trial, communicate the trial with workers and clients, and set organizational changes to boost productivity.
Summary of the project findings
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95% of companies rated the experience positively
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85% of workers said they’d require more than a 20% pay increase to return to five days
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In 58.5% of companies, workers had one day off per week, while 41.5% of companies opted for a nine-day fortnight. After four months, the organizations rated the overall trial an average of 7.7/10
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Within three months, the frequency of negative mental health symptoms decreased significantly, with anxiety falling by 21%, fatigue dropping by 23%, and insomnia or sleep problems reducing by 19%
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The percentage of workers who struggled with balancing work and family responsibilities fell from 46% to 8%
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65% of workers spent more time with their families after the reduction in working hours
How can this research inform change?
Provide a model for innovation
The information generated by this project will help and encourage other Portuguese and international firms to experiment alternative ways of organizing work. Some Portuguese companies have already reached out showing interest to start their own trial.
Educate and impact workers' rights and policy makers
Secondly, our research will inform trade unions about the trade-offs involved in reducing the working time that might be used when negotiating on collective agreements. During the past year, we were asked to explain the project to several trade unions, such as IGMetall (Germany), UGT (Portugal) or Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (Netherlands). We hope it will help policy makers in designing evidence-based policies and political parties in preparing electoral platforms.
Increase public awareness and discussion
Since the beginning of the pilot, we counted more than 500 references in the Portuguese media (reports or interviews in newspapers, radio, tv, opinion articles or independent media), but also from international media (more than 40 references in media in English, 40 articles in Spain, 40 articles in Italy, 20 in France and 20 in Germany, with several international news outlets coming to Portugal to talk to the firms involved). This testifies the interest on the topic. It also attests that, despite being a project in a small country, because it has been well conducted, what we learn from it is important in an international scale.
Fact finder
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Full project title: Four-Day Working Week: A Government Plan to Trial It
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Project funding: £75,544
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Funder: Institute for Employment & Vocational Training (Portuguese Ministry of Employment)
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Dates of research: 14 September 2022 to April 2024
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People: Professor Pedro Gomes with Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School)
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More details: Read the full details and findings of the study
“We tracked the experience of companies during the trial to determine the economic, societal, and environmental implications of the four-day week. This included measuring the impact of reduced work time on the physical and mental health of workers, as well as the economic and functional impact on organisations. ”
