Global Trials Raise Questions About the Future of Work
Norrköping, Sweden – As many enjoy their weekends, a growing global movement is rethinking the five-day workweek. The idea of a four-day workweek has moved from utopian fantasy to practical experiment, with countries launching trials and uncovering promising outcomes that challenge century-old norms.
From Iceland to Spain… Promising Trials
In Iceland, between 2015 and 2019, large-scale public sector trials revealed that productivity remained stable or improved, while stress and burnout significantly declined. These findings led to widespread changes in collective labor agreements.
Spain launched a government-backed pilot in 2021, supported by the Más País party, encouraging SMEs to trial the four-day week.
In the UK, more than 70 companies participated in a trial organized by the 4 Day Week Campaign, with input from Cambridge, Oxford, and Boston College. Results showed 86% of companies planned to continue the shorter week after the trial, reporting improved employee wellbeing.
Belgium and Sweden: Flexible Approaches
Belgium now allows employees to condense work into four longer days without reducing weekly hours. Sweden is testing an 80% working time model with 100% salary for six months in select companies.
Previous Swedish trials—like a senior care home project in Gothenburg—yielded mixed results, but ongoing pilots aim to offer a clearer picture of the model’s feasibility.
Why the Shift?
Key motivators include:
- Employee wellbeing: Reduced stress and better work-life balance.
- Productivity gains: More focus and efficiency in less time.
- Talent attraction: A competitive edge in recruiting.
- Environmental benefits: Fewer commutes mean lower emissions.
Remaining Challenges
- Difficult application in some sectors.
- Restructuring costs for businesses.
- Uneven benefits among different types of workers.
Will Sweden Embrace the Change?
As Sweden continues testing the four-day workweek model, results remain inconclusive. While some praise improved quality of life and efficiency, others express concern over economic impacts. As more data emerges, the central question persists: Will Sweden make the four-day week a permanent reality?
