What happens to output with a four-day workweek?
Fewer days, same pay—productivity did not collapse.
Well-run four-day pilots often report flat to +8% relative output with higher wellbeing—results vary by industry.
Study
hr
business
health
If you…
Pilot 32-hour four-day week with same pay for 6+ months
Then…
Revenue or output per employee → +0–8%
Context
UK and Iceland pilots, knowledge work, 2022–2025
What changes
Well-run four-day pilots often report flat to +8% relative output with higher wellbeing—results vary by industry.
When this tends to work
- Conditions similar to: UK and Iceland pilots, knowledge work, 2022–2025
- You can measure
Revenue or output per employeereliably - The intervention is implemented consistently, not half-measured
When to be careful
- Your audience or product differs materially from the cited context
- Compliance costs or second-order effects outweigh the lift
- Evidence label is study—treat wide ranges as planning bands, not promises
Practical takeaway
Use the cited range for prioritization and test design. Verify against your own data before scaling.
