The Benefits of Shorter, Flexible Work Weeks
Stockholm, DolceLoca
Sweden is one of the countries that already has switched to six-hour workdays for staff, while still paying for eight. If that sounds mad, it isn’t. Shorter and more flexible working weeks are proven to produce better life/work balance, more productivity and better health (which reduces NHS costs).
Nurses in Gothenburg work fewer hours but report more energy, less stress and fewer sick days. Workers use the extra time off for family walks, hobbies or just a slower coffee break at home.
Iceland: Testing the Four-Day Week
Iceland followed suit and took the step to try a four-day work-week in government offices and some private companies, by dropping weekly hours from 40 to 35, without cutting pay. Again, workers reported feeling much better. 86% of the country’s workforce have now adopted shorter working weeks.
Poland: Flexible Starts and Staggered Shifts
Poland hasn’t made sweeping changes, but still quite a few. Parents can start at 7am and leave earlier, or arrive at 10am and stay later. This helps people to skip rush hours and walk children to school, and care for older parents.
Italy: Bologna’s Co-operatives and Shops with a Twist
Bologna, often called Italy’s co-operative capital, puts people first at work. Local co-ops sometimes cut hours in exchange for slightly lower pay or profit-sharing.
Often in Italian cities, stores open early morning, pause long mid-day lunch breaks, and stay open later in the evening. This matches daily life and is good to go inside and rest, during hot afternoons. It also means shopkeepers can share child-caring for other relatives.
Yet Bologna has a better economy than the rest of Italy, despite working less hours.
More Freedom to Give Back and Connect
Extra time isn’t just for family or fun. Some workers use their added hours to help their communities, volunteer, or support local events. In Bologna, Italy, where co-operatives often trim work hours, it’s common to see people helping at food banks or joining neighbourhood clean-ups. Or caring for relatives or elderly neighbours.
The 4 Day Week Campaign
You would think fewer hours would mean less work done. The opposite is true for most trials in Europe and beyond. The 4 Day Week Campaign worked with over 70 companies to test a four-day week for six months, keeping pay the same but reducing hours. The results: most businesses finished as much or more work. Over half said productivity went up.
Some real wins from recent trials:
- 92% of firms kept the four-day week after their pilot ended
- More than half reported higher productivity
- Companies saved money from fewer absences and reduced staff sickness.
Work isn’t just about people. Where and how we work shapes our planet. Fewer workdays mean fewer commutes, less office electricity, and lighter use of heat and air conditioning. If everyone worked one less day, it could cut the country’s total carbon footprint by up to 20%.
Workers use less petrol, spend fewer long days indoors, and rely less on single-use lunches or extra printing. Even small savings, spread across millions of workers, add up.
At the business level, companies save on:
- Lower utility bills
- Less wear and tear on buildings
- Smaller snack and coffee budgets
Moving Beyond the 9 to 5
It is a good time to ask: What does “full-time” even mean now? Could your company try a six-hour day? Do shifts need to be eight hours, or could five or four suit your team better? Are there days when some staff work from home? What hours do customers really need service?
Cambridgeshire has become the first council to implement a four-day working week for staff, following a successful trial. It also saved £333,000 in paying agency staff to cover sickness from burned-out employees. And these savings could then obviously be passed on to residents.
Interested? Buy The 4 Day Week Handbook, the ideal read for employers who wish to make a difference.
