Overview

• The study tracked 2,896 employees across 141 companies in six countries over six months, maintaining full pay despite a 20 percent reduction in work hours.
• Companies restructured workflows during an eight-week preparation phase by cutting unnecessary meetings and tasks to preserve productivity at 80 percent of previous hours.
• Participants reported significant declines in burnout alongside improvements in job satisfaction and both mental and physical health.
• Researchers identified increased work ability, fewer sleep problems, and reduced fatigue as the main factors driving the observed well-being benefits.
• Follow-up data collected six months after the trial ended confirmed that all major well-being gains persisted and that the four-day schedule remained in place at 90 percent of trial companies.