Julia Backmann, the scientific lead of the pilot study, noted that employees generally felt better with fewer hours and remained just as productive as they were with a five-day week. In some cases, they were even more productive, which suggests that a shorter workweek could potentially enhance overall employee effectiveness. This finding challenges the traditional belief that longer hours equate to increased productivity and opens up new possibilities for rethinking work structures.
Participating employees reported significant improvements in their mental and physical health, corroborated by data from smartwatches tracking daily stress levels. This decline in stress and burnout symptoms suggests that the 4-day workweek not only impacts productivity but also contributes to a healthier, happier workforce. Backmann’s research indicates that employees who work fewer hours feel more engaged and fulfilled at work, which might be the key to maintaining high performance.
According to Backmann's findings, two out of three employees claimed to have fewer distractions due to optimized processes. Over half of the participating companies redesigned their meetings to reduce their frequency and duration. This transformation within the work culture highlights how a shorter workweek can lead organizations to evaluate and improve their operational efficiency, thereby benefiting employees with better time management and enhanced focus during working hours.
Collection
[
|
...
]