Will the 4-day work week work?

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TrustWorki

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Published on

Jul 27, 2025

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Between 2020 and 2022, 51% of Iceland’s workers accepted an offer of shorter hours – such as a 4-day week – for no loss of pay. Guess what happened for this Nordic nation of 380,000 in moving to this new way of working?
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🌱 Iceland's economy grew by 5% last year, significantly outperforming other European nations.

♻️ Research shows that this shift in Iceland has had a positive impact on work-life balance and personal stress.

🎯 Productivity in most cases remained the same or even increased

😀 Staff well-being increased 'dramatically'

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Other countries and companies have trialled the 4day work week to positive results:
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✅ Valencia, Spain in 2023 found improvements in stress, air pollution and the well-being of children

✅ Microsoft Japan in 2019, piloted the shorter week and saw a 40% increase in productivity!

 

These aren't the only changes. Check out the World Economic Forum video for more details about the benefits of reduced working hours!
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Half of Iceland’s workers have moved to shorter working hours, such as a 4-day week | World Economic Forum
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Analytical thinking and creative thinking are going to be the most sought-after workplace skills among employers, followed by resilience, motivation and curiosity. All qualities cultivated within happier human powered workplaces with thriving cultures underpinned with psychological safety and trust.
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Want increased productivity, healthier employee engagement? Maybe it's time to think outside the box?
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Talk to us at #TrustWorki for ways to more deeply tune into the sentiment of your workforce through our innovative Psychological Safety Pulse tool - hear what employees are really saying, feeling, thinking!
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Reach out to learn more, email us at hello@trustworki.com
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The 4-day week was also discussed today on the Claire Byrne RTE Radio 1 show Will the four-day work week actually work in Ireland? | Today with Claire Byrne - RTÉ Radio 1, with guests Patricia Murray, Workplace psychologist and Aisling Cusack, Forsa. 

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Listen back here:

Will the four-day work week actually work in Ireland? | Today with Claire Byrne - RTÉ Radio 1

 

#TrustWorki #Trust #hightrust #workplaceculture #psychologicalsafety #leadership #inclusiveleadership #success #employeeengagement #brilliantcultures #becausetrustworks #bebrilliant #trustworks #sparkbrilliance #4dayworkweek #employeebenefits

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