An overwhelming majority of studies report that a four-day week leads to increased productivity and decreased stress, though experts question whether this arrangement is possible in blue collar work, where there may be little wasted time, or workers would be required to work faster to maintain the same productivity, potentially increasing stress levels and decreasing safety.
In the early 20th century, when the average work week in developed nations was reduced from around 60 to 40 hours, it was expected that further decreases would occur over time.
In 1930, economist John Maynard Keynes estimated that technological change and productivity improvements would make a 15-hour work week possible within a couple of generations.
[5] Other notable people throughout history to predict continuing reductions in working hours include United States (US) Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, Karl Marx, British philosopher John Stuart Mill, and playwright George Bernard Shaw.
[25][26][27] In New Zealand, trust company Perpetual Guardian announced in February 2018 that it would begin trialing a four-day work week in March 2018.
[28] The six-week trial, initiated by founder Andrew Barnes, saw the company's 240-plus staff nominating a day off each week whilst still receiving full pay.
[30][31][32][33][34] In late March 2018, Barnes noted that the trial was going well with staff reporting more time for their families, hobbies, completing their to-do lists and doing home maintenance.
[64][65] Barnes also held the scheme up as a potential blueprint for the workplace of the future, ensuring companies were attractive to millennials[66] and easing Auckland's traffic congestion.
[68] Microsoft Japan conducted a trial four-day work week in summer 2019, granting workers paid leave on Fridays.
[70] In 2023, Valencia, Spain, implemented a pilot program scheduling local holidays on four consecutive Mondays, resulting in a four-day workweek for 360,000 workers.
This initiative, designed by the left-wing Compromis coalition, showed notable health benefits, including reduced stress and improved air quality due to decreased vehicle emissions.
[72][12] These include: the consultancy Think Productive, which has been doing a four-day week since 2011;[73][13] Plymouth-based Portcullis Legals, which has highlighted improvement with productivity and stress levels among staff, whilst providing higher levels of satisfaction amongst its clients;[citation needed] Cornwall-based accountancy firm Whyfield; Bristol and Devon-based Barefoot Architects;[74] gaming studio Big Potato Games;[75] Atom Bank,[76] Leeds-based recruitment agency Charlton Morris;[77] Suffolk-based manufacturing company CMG Technologies, which has been doing a four-day week since 2015;[78] Dorset-based Gungho Marketing; Southampton-based engineering firm Highfield Professional Solutions; and, Edinburgh-based Vault City Brewing.
[3] According to 4 Day Week, employees experienced decreased childcare and commute expenditures, which resulted in an average annual savings of £3,232.40, or around £269.36 per month, for a parent with two children.
[12][80][14][81] As 50% of workers claim improved productivity during the period, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) announces it will permanently provide a four-day workweek to its 820 employees (although with 36 hours instead of 48).
[82] According to Loughborough University, which undertook an external study, the staff's reaction was "overwhelmingly favourable," and for more recent hires, the policies were one of the primary draws.
[92] The 4 days workweek was discussed in House of Lords on 5 September 2022 when Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle questioned if the government is considering the measure especially after Jacob Rees-Mogg announced a crack down on flexitime.
[106] In January 2022, D'Youville College announced a transition to a 4-day, 32-hour work week for all staff and administration without any change to employees pay or benefits.
[109] In The Gambia, a four-day work week was introduced for public officials by president Yahya Jammeh, effective February 1, 2013.
Working hours were limited to Monday through Thursday, 08:00 to 18:00, with Friday designated as a day of rest to allow residents more time for prayer and agriculture.