How to get ready for testing a 4-day work week and measure success?

The 4 day work week is no longer some futuristic idea – it’s happening right now. In the UK, 61 companies and about 2,900 employees tested it for six months, and 92% of employers chose to keep the model afterwards; average revenue was broadly stable (+1.4%). (Autonomy Institute, 2023). According to reports, sick days fell by 65%, and 71% of people reported lower burnout in the same trial (Autonomy Institute, 2023).

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Those numbers raise the question: what would it take for your business to try something similar, and how do you know if it’s really working? Let’s look at what other countries have done, the upsides and drawbacks, and how you can prepare a pilot of your own.

Why are more companies trying shorter weeks?

From Reykjavik to Tokyo, organizations are rethinking the traditional five-day grind. Iceland ran large-scale trials (2015–2019) with around 2,500 public-sector workers; productivity held steady or improved, and today most workers have moved to or gained rights to shorter hours (Autonomy & Alda, 2021).

According to reports, Belgium took a different path in 2022 by letting employees compress a 38-hour week into four days – same hours, fewer days (KPMG Law, 2022).

Elsewhere, Germany launched a six-month pilot in 45 companies in early 2024, with first updates shared by researchers at the University of Münster (DW, 2024).

In Japan, Microsoft’s 2019 test reported a 40% productivity boost (World Economic Forum, 2019).

What are the advantages and risks?

Like any big change in the workplace, moving to a 4 day work week comes with both promising rewards and potential drawbacks.

Positive outcomes companies have seen

• More balance for employees: a three-day weekend means more rest, less stress, and lower burnout. In the UK study, 71% reported feeling less exhausted (Autonomy Institute, 2023).
• Fewer sick days: absenteeism fell by 65% in the same trial (Autonomy Institute, 2023).
• Retention and stability: resignations declined by 57% in UK firms, alongside stable revenue (+1.4%) (Autonomy Institute, 2023).
• Higher productivity: Microsoft Japan’s test showed a 40% boost in output (World Economic Forum, 2019).

Challenges you need to consider

• Longer individual workdays: Belgium’s compressed model left some employees drained after four extended shifts (KPMG Law, 2022).
• Service availability: customer-facing businesses must plan coverage carefully.
• Adjustment costs: redesigning schedules, workflows and tech requires time and investment (Euronews, 2023).

What does it look like in day-to-day practice?

Launching a 4 day work week shouldn’t start with a leap – it should start with a pilot. Six months (as in the UK trial) is often enough to spot real trends. Define what you’ll track (revenue, productivity, well-being, absenteeism) and gather data via surveys and HR tools; involve your team early and iterate (Autonomy Institute, 2023).

Real-life examples help: Glasgow’s UPAC Group formalised a four-day schedule after internal trials, reporting steady performance and lower stress while maintaining coverage (BBC, 2023).

In Spain, the government launched a pilot with subsidies for small and mid-sized firms to cut hours without pay loss; reporting highlights improvements in health and lower stress (Reuters, 2023; Euronews, 2023).

Are any practical ways to measure success?

Running a pilot is only half the job – the real challenge lies in knowing whether it works. To make sense of the results, you’ll need clear ways to measure progress and adjust along the way.

Start with clear metrics

Think beyond vague goals. Decide whether you’ll track sick leave, retention, customer satisfaction, or financial results. UK firms measured both revenue and staff well-being (Autonomy Institute, 2023).

Use smart tools to track progress

Attendance, hours, and leave patterns are easier to monitor with dedicated software. Platforms like Calamari help you gather reliable data on how a shorter week impacts performance.

Compare before and after results

Baseline numbers matter. Look at performance before the pilot, then compare during and after. Balance hard metrics (e.g., revenue, output) with soft insights (e.g., self-reported stress and burnout) (Autonomy Institute, 2023).

Be ready to adapt the model

Some companies adopt a universal four-day schedule, others rotate staff. The German trial, for example, tested both approaches (DW, 2024).

How can Calamari support your transition?

Moving to a 4 day work week requires solid data and clear processes. Calamari helps at every stage of the change:

• Track real working hours – monitor clock-ins, breaks, and overtime to see whether compressed schedules affect actual workload.
• Measure absenteeism – compare sick leave and unplanned absences before and after the pilot.
• Simplify leave requests – employees can easily request time off, while managers keep full visibility of coverage.
• Generate performance insights – export reports on attendance, worked hours, and leave to connect them with productivity and revenue data.
• Support hybrid and remote teams – GPS check-ins and integrations with Slack or Teams let you follow results even when your team works remotely.
• Spot trends early – use dashboards to identify shifts in employee well-being, engagement, or burnout risk during the trial.

With these tools, you’re not just testing shorter weeks – you’re building a clear evidence base to decide whether the model works for your organization.

Ready to see it in action? Start your free Calamari trial today and make your 4 day work week pilot easier to run and measure.

How is the global picture shaping up?

The shorter-week experiment is spreading quickly. Germany ran a coordinated trial with 45 firms in 2024; early findings highlighted well-being improvements (DW, 2024).

Spain supports small and mid-sized firms with subsidies to test shorter weeks, and reports point to health benefits (Reuters, 2023; Euronews, 2023).

In Iceland, shorter schedules have effectively become the norm after the national trials (Autonomy & Alda, 2021).

Looking ahead with a shorter week

Testing a new schedule takes effort, but the payoff can be substantial: lower stress, stronger retention and often stable or improved performance. The risks (longer days in compressed models, coverage gaps) are real but manageable with planning. Start small, measure carefully, and give your team the chance to prove what they can achieve with more balance in their lives.

If you’d like more insights on modern work practices and case studies, subscribe to the Calamari newsletter or check our Calamari blog to stay ahead of the curve.

FAQ about the 4 day work week

Curious how the shorter week really works in practice? Below we’ve collected answers to the most common questions people ask about 4 day work week jobs, benefits, challenges, and global examples.

What are 4 day work week jobs?

They are roles offered with a guaranteed four-day schedule, usually without a pay cut. They often appear in tech, professional services, and progressive SMEs.

What are the main 4 day work week benefits?

The biggest advantages include lower stress, fewer sick days, better retention, and in many cases stable or higher productivity. The UK pilot, for example, showed a 65% drop in absenteeism and stable revenue.

What are the disadvantages of a 4-day work week?

The main challenges are longer workdays in compressed models, potential issues with customer service coverage, and the cost of adjusting workflows or technology.

What are the pros and cons of 4 day work week models?

Pros: better work–life balance, stronger hiring appeal, fewer resignations, and in some cases higher productivity.

Cons: risk of fatigue from longer shifts, uneven service coverage, and organizational costs of transition.

What are the 4-day work week advantages and disadvantages in different countries?

Iceland’s shorter weeks kept productivity stable, Belgium’s compressed schedule left some workers drained, and Japan’s Microsoft trial showed big productivity gains. Outcomes depend on whether hours are reduced or compressed.

What countries have a 4 day work week?

Iceland, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the UK, and Japan have all tested or introduced versions of shorter working weeks. Results vary depending on local culture and labor laws.

Where can I find companies with 4 day work week policies?

Examples include firms from the UK pilot, Microsoft Japan, and small to mid-sized companies in Spain and Germany. Lists of 4 day workweek jobs are increasingly shared on recruitment platforms.

How to work a 4 day week effectively?

Focus on prioritizing tasks, reducing unnecessary meetings, and leveraging digital tools to keep productivity high. Companies often provide training on time management before starting a pilot.

What does 4 day work week meme culture tell us?

The rise of memes about the 4-day work week reflects growing public demand for better work–life balance. Humor is a way employees express both hope and skepticism about change.

Sources

• Autonomy Institute. (2023). The UK’s four-day week pilot: Results.
• Autonomy & Alda. (2021). Going Public: Iceland’s journey to a shorter working week.
• KPMG Law. (2022). Belgium’s Labour Deal: Four-day week option explained.
• World Economic Forum. (2019, Nov 4). Microsoft Japan’s four-day work week boosted productivity by 40%.
• Euronews. (2023, Jan 30). Four-day work week: What we learned from the world’s largest trial.
• BBC News. (2023, Sep 20). Glasgow company switches permanently to four-day working week.
• Reuters. (2023, Mar 14). Spain launches pilot programme for four-day work week.
• DW News. (2024, Feb 1). Germany to test four-day week.