Study Finds Four-Day Workweek Boosts Employee Efficiency and Well-Being

A six-month study involving nearly 3,000 participants found that transitioning to a four-day workweek significantly improves job satisfaction and reduces sleep-related issues among employees. The research was conducted by Wen Fan, an associate professor in the sociology department at Boston College, and Juliet Schor, a professor of economics, as reported by The Register.

The findings were published in the journal *Nature Human Behaviour*. The study was conducted over six months with 2,800 employees from 141 organizations across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, and the USA. During the experiment, some employees had their workweek reduced by one full day, while others experienced a reduction in hours, all while maintaining their full salaries. Employees from 12 companies continued to work the standard schedule and served as a control group.

Researchers assessed various work and health-related metrics, including burnout, job satisfaction, mental and physical health, before and after the experiment by utilizing survey data. The scientists found that reduced working hours positively influenced employee well-being, a trend not mirrored in the control companies. Participants reported an average decline in burnout levels of 0.44 points (on a five-point scale) and an increase in job satisfaction of 0.52 points (on a ten-point scale). Self-rated physical health improved by 0.28 points.

The authors discovered a direct correlation: the more substantial the reduction in working hours, the greater the improvements observed. The group that worked eight hours less showed the most significant benefits across all well-being measures.

«Our results indicate that a four-day workweek with retained pay is an effective organizational strategy for enhancing employee well-being,» the researchers stated.

They acknowledge limitations in their sample, as companies participated voluntarily and were primarily small businesses from English-speaking countries. They suggest that larger government-sponsored studies could offer a clearer understanding of the impacts.