A new study published in Nature Human Behavior has found that transitioning to a four-day workweek can significantly enhance employee mental health, reduce burnout, and increase job satisfaction, without compromising productivity.
For the study, researchers analysed data from nearly 2,900 employees across 141 companies in countries, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland. These companies adopted a 32-hour, four-day week while maintaining full-time pay over a six-month trial.
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During the trial, the study found that employees working 80% of their usual hours reported reduced burnout and higher job satisfaction, along with improvements in overall well-being. On average, participants worked five fewer hours per week. Even employees with smaller reductions experienced noticeable benefits.
To compare results, the study also tracked 290 employees at 12 companies that retained the traditional five-day schedule. The contrast further highlighted the benefits of reduced work hours.
The study, led by Juliet Schor of Boston College, found that the shorter workweek resulted in better sleep, reduced fatigue, and an enhanced sense of job effectiveness. The restructuring led to changes in workflow that improved both individual and team efficiency. “Workers reported a higher sense of performing their jobs well, pointing to a deeper transformation in how work was experienced,” the authors noted.
However, researchers cautioned that since participating companies were already open to the idea of reduced work hours, broader trials across more varied organisations are still needed to confirm whether the benefits hold universally.
