A four-day work week, without salary cuts, improves workers’ physical and mental health and bolsters company economics, as highlighted in a study published by the scientific journal Nature Human Behaviour.
This study included 2,896 workers from 141 companies across six countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States, who reduced their weekly working hours.
Researchers from Boston and University College Dublin categorized the participants into three groups: those who reduced their working hours by eight or more, standardizing their work into four days; a group with a reduction of five to seven hours; and another with a reduction of one to four hours.
The health data of these participants, without a pay cut, was compared with 285 employees from 12 companies who did not experience a reduction in working hours.
Surveys conducted over six months were analyzed, comparing employment and health indicators, such as burnout, job satisfaction, and mental and physical health, before and after the experiment.
The results indicated a clear conclusion: four-day work weeks, with unchanged remuneration, enhance job satisfaction and workers’ physical and mental health. Workers reported better performance, reduced fatigue, fewer health issues, and notably improved sleep.
Workers who decreased their hours by eight or more per week noted a significant drop in burnout, improved mental health, and heightened job satisfaction compared to the control group who did not reduce their work hours.
Those who worked one to four hours less per week, and five to seven hours reported similar beneficial effects as those working four days a week, experiencing less sleep problems and fatigue with improved individual work capacity. However, these benefits were not as pronounced as those seen in the group working four days a week (less by eight hours).
Researchers highlighted the potential of global initiatives aimed at reducing work hours due to their health and productivity benefits, such as the six-hour workday or a 20% reduction in work time.
Portugal also conducted a pilot project on the four-day work week, lasting six months. The results showed that nearly all (95%) of the approximately 40 participating companies assessed the experience positively.
Workers noted improvements in balancing personal, professional, and family life.
Over 60% reported spending more time with family due to reduced working hours.
On average, the four-day work week led to a 13.7% reduction in weekly hours.
Conversely, a study by the Associação Industrial Portuguesa — Câmara de Comércio e Indústria (AIP-CCI) found that seven out of ten companies oppose the implementation of a four-day work week, particularly in commerce, industry, and construction, while 71% of those in favor believe it should be optional.
