4-day workweek is benefiting both employees and employers: Here’s how – Times of India

What began as an experiment to address employee burnout is now gaining traction as a serious alternative to the traditional five-day workweek. In a recent multinational trial, companies across six countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand—adopted a four-day workweek to test whether reducing hours could improve employee well-being without hurting business outcomes. A trial was coordinated by 4 Day Week Global, a non-profit organization promoting shorter working hours as a path to improved work-life balance and organizational efficiency. The project was carried out in partnership with researchers from Boston College, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford. The evaluation combined employee self-reporting with independent academic analysis, offering one of the most comprehensive global datasets on the impacts of reduced working time.Participants across sectors—including tech, finance, education, and manufacturing—were allowed two months to prepare for the change, often by reducing low-value meetings, simplifying workflows, and aligning priorities.The result? A model that appears to benefit both sides of the workplace equation.

Less time, better outcomes

Participating organizations were given two months to restructure operations. Most focused on eliminating unnecessary meetings, cutting back on time-wasting tasks, and simplifying internal communication. The idea wasn’t to squeeze five days of work into four—but to rethink how time is used.Six months later, employees reported significant improvements:

By contrast, a control group that continued with the standard five-day schedule saw no meaningful changes. Even those who received less than a full day off still experienced benefits, although the most dramatic gains came from employees who worked eight fewer hours per week.

Employers see gains too

Importantly, this wasn’t just about employees feeling better. Employers benefited in tangible ways as well. Over half of all participants, 52%, said they became more productive after switching to a four-day schedule.Fewer hours led to more focused work. With better time management and fewer distractions, many organizations reported stronger outputs without additional pressure. The restructuring forced companies to streamline their systems, cut inefficiencies, and prioritize what truly mattered.This shift didn’t just improve morale—it improved performance.

Part of a broader trend

The findings echo those from a larger 2022 trial in the UK, which involved over 3,000 workers across 70+ organizations. Most of those companies chose to continue the four-day week even after the trial ended, citing stable or improved productivity.Governments are starting to take notice:

These examples point to a growing willingness to challenge old norms in favor of more balanced, flexible models.

A sustainable alternative, with conditions

Still, the four-day week isn’t a universal solution. The trial didn’t evaluate long-term economic outcomes, and not all industries may find the model workable. Jobs that require physical presence or round-the-clock coverage may face logistical challenges.But the overall takeaway is difficult to ignore: when planned thoughtfully, shorter workweeks can lead to happier, healthier employees—and more focused, efficient workplaces.

A better balance

At a time when burnout and disengagement are widespread, the four-day workweek offers more than a novel idea—it offers a blueprint for a healthier, more sustainable approach to work. The model works not because it reduces responsibility, but because it redefines productivity in smarter, more human terms.For employers looking to retain talent and improve performance, and for workers searching for balance without sacrificing ambition, the four-day workweek may no longer be a question of if, but when.