Reduced Weekly Workload Enhances Employee Wellness - Research Findings
A groundbreaking study, led by researchers at Boston College and Cambridge University, has shed light on the potential benefits of a four-day workweek in high-income countries. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour in 2025, involved around 2,900 workers from 141 organisations in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.
Employee Health and Well-being
The results of the study show that employees working a four-day week reported improvements in both mental and physical health. Reductions in mental strain were observed alongside better sleep quality and increased overall well-being. For instance, one large study tracked nearly 2,900 employees over six months, finding higher levels of physical and mental wellness among those on reduced schedules compared to those on traditional five-day workweeks.
Burnout
There was a notable decrease in burnout among employees working four-day weeks. In one study, 67% of participants reported reduced burnout levels after six months on the shorter workweek, while the control group on the traditional schedule did not show meaningful changes.
Job Satisfaction and Productivity
Job satisfaction increased significantly with the shorter workweek, alongside maintained or improved productivity. Companies in these trials adapted workflows (e.g., eliminating unnecessary meetings) during an initial transition period to sustain output in fewer hours. Researchers found that larger reductions in hours (eight hours or more per week) correlated with stronger positive effects.
Contextual Considerations
While most findings are positive, some concerns remain for certain job types. High-demand roles requiring long hours may see stress increase if employees attempt to complete the same workload in less time. Similarly, jobs demanding continuous coverage, like retail or customer service, might require additional staffing, increasing costs for employers.
Additional Benefits
Reduced commuting time not only contributed to better work-life balance but also lowered greenhouse gas emissions. Employees also tended to use fewer personal days for errands, potentially due to having an extra day off for such activities.
The study's findings primarily come from recent large-scale international trials led by Boston College researchers Wen Fan and Juliet Schor. They reflect a broad sample across multiple high-income countries and suggest that four-day workweeks can offer substantial advantages for employee health and organisational outcomes, especially when implemented thoughtfully without pay cuts and with attention to workflow redesign.
In Belgium, workers have the right to demand a 4-day workweek, while Spain is planning to reduce the workweek from 40 hours to 37.5 hours. More countries, such as Poland, Iceland, Germany, and Portugal, are experimenting with reducing the workweek as a response to increasing cases of depression, anxiety, and burnout among employees.
The popularity of studies on a four-day workweek has increased since the pandemic, as people have become more imaginative about how work can be done differently. The researchers acknowledge that the pilot program had limitations, such as potential biases due to self-reported well-being and participation from organisations that already support flexible work schedules. However, they believe that this study provides the most compelling evidence to date that a four-day workweek performs well in various types of organisations and countries.
In conclusion, the evidence indicates that a four-day workweek in high-income countries can improve mental and physical health, reduce burnout, increase job satisfaction, and maintain or enhance productivity, provided employers carefully manage workload and staffing needs.
- The findings from recent international trials suggest that a four-day workweek can offer substantial advantages for mental health and organizational outcomes, as employees working shorter weeks reported improvements in both mental and physical health, as well as reduced burnout levels and increased job satisfaction.
- The implementation of a four-day workweek can contribute to overall wellness, not only by improving employee health and mental health but also by reducing commuting time, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions and offering employees an extra day for personal errands, potentially reducing the need for personal days off.
