Four-Day Workweek in Europe: Trials and Outcomes

Across Europe, trade unions are urging governments to adopt a permanent four-day workweek. The concept is simple: employees work four days a week while maintaining their previous salary. Here's an overview of where the idea has been tested and the outcomes so far, according to Euronews.

Portugal: Following successful pilot programs in other countries, Portugal has joined the list of nations experimenting with the four-day week concept. In a pilot project, 39 private companies partnered with the nonprofit advocacy group 4 Day Week Global as part of a government initiative. Portugal currently ranks third in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries for the length of the workweek, with 72% of people working over 40 hours a week.

Iceland: Between 2015 and 2019, Iceland conducted the world's largest pilot project on a four-day workweek, reducing the workweek to 35-36 hours without any reduction in pay. The experiment was deemed successful by researchers, leading Icelandic trade unions to negotiate a shorter workweek. The study also found a decrease in stress and burnout among employees, along with an improved work-life balance.

Belgium: Belgium became the first European country to officially pass a law on the four-day workweek. The law grants employees the right to work a full workweek in four days instead of the usual five, resulting in longer working hours on each specific day.

United Kingdom: A number of British companies conducted a six-month trial of the four-day workweek, which they now consider "extremely successful." After the trial period, approximately 92% of participating companies decided to maintain the four-day week policy.

Scotland and Wales: Scotland is planning a government experiment with the four-day workweek in 2023, while the Welsh government is considering the possibility of conducting its own trial.

Spain: In December 2022, Spain launched a pilot project initiated by the left-wing party Más País, which obtained government approval. The experiment aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises reduce the workweek by at least half a day without decreasing wages, ultimately testing the potential for increased productivity.

Sweden: Sweden previously experimented with a six-hour workday in 2015, but with mixed results. The proposal suggested a six-hour workday without reducing pay, but the idea of spending money on such a large-scale implementation was met with resistance, even from left-wing parties.

Finland: Contrary to media speculation, Finland has not implemented a four-day workweek. Although Prime Minister Sanna Marin proposed the idea in August 2019, it was not included in the government's agenda.

Germany: Germany already has one of the shortest average workweeks in Europe, according to the World Economic Forum, with an average of only 34.2 hours. While small startups in Germany have conducted experiments with work time, larger-scale implementation of the four-day workweek is yet to be seen. Startups claim that implementing a four-day workweek increases employee satisfaction and, consequently, productivity.

Ukraine: More than 70% of surveyed employers in Ukraine are open to considering a transition to a four-day workweek. While half of them are unsure how such a schedule would operate, nearly 90% are willing to maintain current salaries even with a reduced work schedule.