The four-day workweek is picking up steam across the globe.
Dozens of countries including Ireland, Spain and the UK have tested a 4-day workweek, with overwhelmingly positive results: Businesses that participated in a six-month trial in the UK, which ended in December 2022, said switching to a 4-day workweek improved productivity, morale and team culture.
On the employee side, people said having more personal time reduced burnout and boosted life satisfaction, according to self-reporting from trial participants.
Although no country has fully adopted a 4-day workweek, some countries are experimenting with one or have policies that allow workers to request a shorter schedule. Here are four countries where the 4-day workweek has been widely adopted, or is being tested:
More than 500 employees at 28 companies are participating in South Africa’s 4-day workweek trial, which began in March and will continue until September. A second trial is planned to start in June.
The experiment is being run by 4 Day Week South Africa, which is a branch of 4 Day Week Global, the same group that helped organize the UK trial.
There are 28 companies and more than 500 employees participating in the trial, says Karen Lowe, director of 4 Day Week South Africa.
The experiment uses a 100-80-100 model: workers receive 100% of the pay for working 80% of the time and still delivering 100% of their usual output.
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