Four-Day Work Week Statistics By Challenges, Employee Preferences and Benefits
Updated · Mar 27, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice
- What is a Four-Day Work Week?
- General Four-Day Week Statistics
- Employee Preferences and Benefits of 4- Day Work Week Statistics
- AI and the Four-Day Working Week Statistics
- Preferred Number of Days to Work in The Office By CEOs
- Company’s Opinion on Four-Day Work Week Statistics
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Challenges of a Four-Day Workweek
- Recent Developments
- Conclusion
Introduction
Four-Day Work Week Statistics: The Four-Day Work Week is gaining attention as companies and countries experiment with new work schedules to improve work-life balance and keep employees happy. This idea became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to more remote and hybrid work options. Now, many countries are testing or have already started the Four-Day Work Week to increase employee satisfaction and productivity.
Some companies have already switched to a Four-Day work week, giving workers longer weekends. However, most countries are still testing this idea, either through private companies or with government approval.
In 2025, these Four-Day Work Week Statistics will show how widely the Four-Day Work Week is being adopted worldwide.
Editor’s Choice
- Almost 66% of businesses that switched to a four-day workweek have seen cost savings.
- 93% of senior leaders in companies using AI are either thinking about or already using a four-day workweek.
- Women are 5% more likely than men to support a four-day workweek to save money on childcare.
- 58% of employees would rather work four days than receive a salary increase. 7 A four-day workweek could help reduce carbon emissions by 20%, mainly by cutting down on commuting.
- Companies with a four-day workweek saw 57% less employee turnover.
- PeopleFinderFree increased its productivity by 40% after switching to a four-day workweek.
- 65% of senior leaders aged 35-44 support a four-day workweek.
- 45% of senior leaders aged 55-64 support a four-day workweek.
- A survey shows that 93% of Millennials and 88% of Gen Xers are leading the push for shorter workweeks.
- Over 15% of companies in the US have a 32-hour workweek over four days.
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that 54% of HR professionals say they’ve had more questions from employees about adopting a four-day workweek.
- In Ireland and Germany, 54% of workers prefer a shorter workweek over higher pay.
- 25% of workers in Hungary wish for a four-day workweek.
- In the UK, 64% of businesses back the idea of a four-day workweek.
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What is a Four-Day Work Week?
A four-day workweek is when employees or students work or study for four days instead of the usual five. This setup is often part of flexible work hours and is sometimes used to help save money.
(Source: wildbit.com)
In recent years, more companies and organizations around the world have been trying out and switching to a four-day workweek. Workers usually still work 32 hours in total each week but get an extra day off with no pay cut. Office jobs have mostly adopted this model, and it’s shown to improve employees’ work-life balance, reduce stress, and boost productivity by cutting down on wasted time. Studies show that a four-day workweek increases both productivity and well-being for employees.
However, some experts wonder if this would work as well in blue-collar jobs, where workers may not have as much downtime. In these jobs, employees might need to work faster to keep up the same level of productivity, which could lead to higher stress and safety concerns.
General Four-Day Week Statistics
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that almost 59% of US companies are considering a four-day workweek, and 18% are already working on putting it in place.
- 56% of employees prefer working 40 hours over four days instead of the traditional 5-day schedule.
- In the UK, 39% of employees felt less stressed after trying a four-day workweek.
- 92% of businesses are trying to make the four-day workweek plan permanent.
- Microsoft Japan experienced a 40% boost in productivity during their four-day workweek trial.
- UK businesses in the trial reported a 22% increase in productivity with the new workweek.
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that 78% of workers think a shorter workweek would help improve their work-life balance.
- In New Zealand, 78% of employees said they had a better balance between work and personal life after trying the four-day workweek.
- Employees in the UK saw a 33% reduction in stress after the trial.
- In the UK, workers reported a better mental health score, with 54% saying they had fewer negative feelings.
- Companies with a four-day workweek saw a 62% drop in sick leave.
- 66% of employees said a four-day workweek would make them more interested in a job.
(Source: cdn.statcdn.com)
- UK businesses could save about £104 billion per year if they adopted a four-day workweek.
- Companies with a four-day workweek saved 23.1% on operational costs, such as utilities and maintenance.
- 68% of companies found it easier to hire and keep employees when offering a four-day workweek.
- Companies in the four-day workweek trials saw a 15% increase in turnover.
- 29% of companies using AI have also implemented a four-day workweek.
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that nearly 62% of businesses believe that a four-day workweek would require lowering employee salaries.
- 46% of employees worry that fewer working days could hurt sales and affect revenue.
- 41% of employees in fields like manufacturing and HR think a four-day workweek won’t work for their industry.
- 40% of workers worry that a shorter workweek might lead to a bigger workload.
- 75% of businesses not using a four-day workweek say it’s because they need to be available to customers.
- 78% of Gen X and Baby Boomers support a four-day workweek.
- 33% of companies offer a condensed four-day, 40-hour workweek.
- In the US, 93% of managers prefer a four-day workweek for their teams.
- 64% of business leaders expect the four-day workweek to become the norm in the next 5 years.
- In Poland, 28% of workers support a four-day workweek.
Employee Preferences and Benefits of 4- Day Work Week Statistics
- 56% of employees prefer working 40 hours over 4 days instead of the usual 5-day workweek.
- 58% of workers would rather have a Four-Day workweek than a pay raise.
- 66% of employees find a shorter workweek an attractive job benefit.
- 77% of employees feel more loyalty to companies offering a Four-Day workweek.
- 93% of workers in trial programs prefer the Four-Day workweek.
- 59% of employees say they have more time for personal growth with a Four-Day workweek.
(Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)
- According to the Four Day Work Week Statistics 2023, most employees who support a shorter workweek are in the 58 to 76 years age range, making up 32% of those interested.
- Surprisingly, only 12% of workers aged 18 to 25 years want this change.
- Meanwhile, 19% of employees aged 26 to 41 years and 24% of those aged 42 to 57 years are also in favour.
- 60% of workers believe they can finish their tasks in just 4 days.
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that nearly 60% of employees would pick a Four-Day job even with a slight pay cut.
- A 3-day weekend helped increase focus and concentration by 25% during work.
- 62% of employees say a Four-Day workweek improved their social life.
- 78% of Gen X and baby boomer workers are in favor of a Four-Day workweek.
- Women are 5% more likely than men to prefer a Four-Day workweek for potential childcare savings.
AI and the Four-Day Working Week Statistics
(Source: tech.co)
The growth of AI has changed many parts of the business. Here’s what our data shows about its effect on the Four-Day workweek:
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that almost 93% of leaders in companies where AI is a key part of their operations are either thinking about or have already switched to a Four-Day workweek.
- Companies that understand and use AI are much more likely to adopt flexible work schedules.
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics show that nearly all companies using AI fully are likely to try the Four-Day workweek, compared to only 41% of companies that don’t use AI at all and 59% that use it only a little.
Preferred Number of Days to Work in The Office By CEOs
(Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)
In the US, CEOs have different preferences for office workdays:
- Only 17% of CEOs are open to working 4 days in the office.
- A larger group, 27%, prefer working 3 days in the office.
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that almost 3% of CEOs say they’d let employees decide how many days to work in the office.
Other preferences include:
- 1 day in the office (1%)
- 2 days in the office (6%)
- 5 days in the office (22%)
- Adjusting office days based on the job role (24%)
Company’s Opinion on Four-Day Work Week Statistics
The idea of a four-day workweek offers many benefits, but businesses should think carefully before making the change. Here are some key points:
(Source: testgorilla.com)
- Four-Day Workweek Statistics stated that almost 85% of companies that tried a Four-Day workweek want to continue using it.
- Out of 41 companies that tested the Four-Day schedule, 35 said they are likely or very likely to keep it after the trial ends.
- 95% of companies saw better productivity after switching to a Four-Day workweek.
- Of the 41 companies involved in the study, 39 reported higher productivity. Among them, 6 saw a productivity boost of about 15%.
- The biggest concern for companies is trying to condense hours into fewer days.
- While most studies show a rise in productivity, fitting 35-40 hours into just 4 days can lead to burnout and lower productivity.
- Ideally, a Four-Day workweek should mean working no more than 30 hours, but this could cause problems with full-time benefits and scheduling.
- Four-Day Workweek Statistics stated that 40% of companies are already using or plan to use a Four-Day workweek in 2023.
- The Four-Day workweek is becoming more popular, with nearly half of companies planning to try it shortly.
Advantages and Disadvantages
As more studies and real-world examples come in, the benefits of a shorter workweek are becoming more obvious, making it a popular choice for forward-thinking companies.
(Source: driveresearch.com)
- A study by Henley Business School in the UK found that 77% of employees experienced higher productivity working a Four-Day week.
- Microsoft Japan tested a Four-Day workweek and saw a 40% boost in productivity compared to the year before.
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that almost 66% of employees consider a shorter workweek an appealing perk when evaluating job offers.
- As remote work and flexible schedules grow, companies offering a Four-Day workweek stand out in attracting and keeping top talent. A survey by Robert Half, a global staffing firm, showed that most workers find a reduced workweek attractive.
- A survey from Kronos Incorporated found that 78% of workers think a Four-Day workweek would make it easier to balance work and life.
- Research, including one by Harvard Business School, showed that employees with a Four-Day week had less stress and were more satisfied with their jobs.
- In New Zealand, Perpetual Guardian tried a Four-Day workweek, and employees’ stress levels dropped by 7%, while job satisfaction went up.
Challenges of a Four-Day Workweek
While there are plenty of advantages, there are also challenges to consider with a Four-Day workweek. Here are some statistics showing the difficulties:
(Source: driveresearch.com)
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that 62% of businesses believe switching to a Four-Day workweek would mean a pay cut for employees.
- 39% of workers are concerned that a shorter workweek could lead to a pay reduction, according to a study by Kronos Incorporated.
- The same study showed that 40% of employees are afraid their tasks will pile up during a shorter workweek, causing more stress. Companies need to manage workloads carefully to avoid this.
- 44% of HR professionals are concerned about how practical a Four-Day workweek would be in their industry.
- A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 44% of HR professionals worry about how possible a Four-Day workweek is in their sector, especially in fields like healthcare, retail, and hospitality, where customer needs must be met.
- Four-Day Work Week Statistics stated that 46% of HR professionals also said it would be hard to coordinate schedules and coverage across teams when switching to a Four-Day workweek.
Recent Developments
- Growing Global Interest: The idea of a Four-Day workweek (4DWW) is gaining popularity worldwide. Big companies like Shopify, Kickstarter, Basecamp, Amazon, and Microsoft are looking into or already using shorter work weeks.
- Laws in the US: Some US states are considering or have already proposed laws about the 4DWW. The proposed laws differ as per state, with some focusing on public jobs, like schools, while others want to apply it to many industries.
- In California, there is a proposal to reduce the workweek to 32 hours, with extra pay for hours worked beyond that.
- Massachusetts is working on a plan for a two-year trial program, where companies that join can get tax credits.
- Missouri is testing the 4DWW in schools, hoping it will help keep teachers by reducing their work hours.
- Challenges and Pushback: Some states, including Hawaii, Maryland, Utah, and Washington, are having trouble with the 4DWW plans. They worry about the costs of reducing work hours and whether the changes would be effective.
- Advantages and Changing Workplaces: The 4DWW is not only seen as a way to improve well-being and productivity but also as a way to make workplaces more inclusive.
Conclusion
Many companies are starting to realize the benefits of a four-day workweek, even though the five-day workweek has been the standard for a long time. As of 2023, 40% of companies already have or plan to try out the four-day workweek. Employees working this schedule report 70% less stress, a 45% better work-life balance, and 73% say they’re more productive.
These improvements are valuable for companies, as they could see a 34% increase in revenue year-over-year by trying the four-day workweek. Though there are some risks and concerns, the potential benefits of this workweek outweigh the negatives. In the end, companies need to test new ideas and see what works best for them.
FAQ.
Four-Day Workweek in Denmark
A report from the OECD shows that the average workweek in Denmark is only 33 hours. This allows workers in Denmark to spend about 66% of their day on free time and relaxation. In 2019, Odsherred Municipality in Denmark started a 35-hour, Four-Day workweek program.
Research shows that a four-day workweek, where employees work fewer days but keep the same pay and benefits, can lead to higher productivity and better overall happiness.
Saisuman is a talented content writer with a keen interest in mobile tech, new gadgets, law, and science. She writes articles for websites and newsletters, conducting thorough research for medical professionals. Fluent in five languages, her love for reading and languages led her to a writing career. With a Master’s in Business Administration focusing on Human Resources, Saisuman has worked in HR and with a French international company. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and singing classical songs. At Coolest Gadgets, Saisuman reviews gadgets and analyzes their statistics, making complex information easy for readers to understand.
