The UK, Scotland, Spain, Belgium, France… several countries have recently experimented with or are still testing this model, and the results are encouraging. The 4-day week is not a completely new idea, but it is now at the heart of discussions on improving productivity and quality of life at work.

Working less or differently?

Contrary to what you might think, the 4-day week does not seek to reduce weekly working hours, but rather to distribute them differently. The idea is to extend certain days to free up a full day in the week, without reducing the total number of hours worked. This concept was first tested in Iceland in 2015, with great success. Today, the majority of Icelandic workers have already adopted or are planning to switch to this organization.
In 2022, the UK decided to try this method, followed by several other European countries. In countries like Japan and France, companies can choose whether or not to adopt it. Currently, around 5% of French companies have implemented the 4-day week, while 19% opt for more flexible working hours.

Advantages of the 4-day week

• More free time for personal appointments
• Improved mental and physical health
• Spend more time with loved ones
• Increased productivity
• Reduce carbon footprint

Limitations and challenges

• Work reorganization: Implementing a 4-day week requires significant reorganization. Schedules need to be reviewed, workloads adjusted and employees ensured that they can always meet customer or project needs.
• Risk of burnout over the 4 days: If the hours worked are condensed, this can lead to significant fatigue on the working days because of the longer days.
• Not suitable for all sectors: Some industries, such as healthcare, catering or retail, where customers or patients expect a constant presence, may find it difficult to switch to a 4-day week model without impacting service.
• Uncertain productivity for certain professions: While the 4-day week seems to work in offices or creative environments, it may be less suited to jobs where physical production or continuous presence is essential. For jobs requiring a high level of physical involvement, longer working days could mean a drop in quality at the end of the day.
• Conflicts with global schedules: For companies working internationally, adopting a 4-day week could create scheduling conflicts. If partners or customers work a traditional week, it may be difficult to coordinate meetings or projects.
• Increased labor costs: In some sectors, reducing the number of working days may mean hiring additional staff to cover the missing day.

Initial test results, particularly in the UK, are very encouraging. Nearly 90% of companies taking part in the trials said they were in favor of adopting a 4-day week, with significant productivity gains. In France, however, the idea still meets with reluctance. While flexibility is becoming the norm in some sectors, the trend remains uncertain. It will be interesting to monitor the impact of this practice on a wider scale, and to observe whether France and other countries will adopt it en masse in the years to come.