In recent years, a growing body of research has suggested that reducing working hours can enhance employee well-being while maintaining or boosting productivity. A landmark study by the University of Münster, led by Professor Dr Julia Backmann and co-led by Dr Felix Hoch, supports this notion. According to the findings, implementing a four-day workweek has led to a notable improvement in life satisfaction, primarily attributed to the additional free time afforded to employees.

Since the start of 2024, 45 organizations across various sectors in Germany have participated in a six-month pilot project initiated by the Berlin consultancy Intraprenör and the global organization "4 Day Week Global." On October 18, Dr. Backmann and Carsten Meier, co-initiator of the pilot project and Managing Director of Intraprenör, presented the first scientific results. 

The participating organizations aimed to explore whether a four-day workweek could enhance employer attractiveness, improve employee health, and provide insights on productivity impacts. While there were slight increases in key financial indicators, such as turnover and profit, these changes were not significantly different from the previous year. Nevertheless, the stable key metrics suggest potential productivity gains despite the reduced working hours. Dr. Backmann noted, “Both management and employees observed an increase in productivity during the trial.”

Before the pilot project began, 64% of employees wanted more time with their families. Following the introduction of the four-day week, this figure decreased to 50%, indicating a positive shift in work-life balance.

The study confirmed that the reduction in working hours did not increase over time. Instead, employees implemented several strategies to enhance efficiency. Over 60% of respondents cited reduced distractions and streamlined processes, while more than half adjusted their meeting culture by decreasing the frequency and duration of internal meetings. Additionally, a quarter of respondents adopted new digital tools to boost productivity further. “The potential for reduced working hours appears to be hindered by complicated processes, excessive meetings, and insufficient digitalization,” explained Meier. “Organizations must undertake necessary transformations to harness the benefits of a four-day week fully.”

The study also revealed significant improvements in employees' mental and physical health. Participants reported lower levels of stress and burnout, and physiological data gathered through smartwatch devices indicated increased daily activity levels. On average, employees in the four-day-week group slept 38 minutes longer per week than those in the control group and reported significantly fewer minutes of daily stress.

Despite a slight reduction in monthly sick days among organizations, the difference was not statistically significant compared to 2023. Additionally, unlike similar studies conducted abroad, the research team found no evidence that the four-day week positively impacted environmentally conscious behaviours or reduced carbon footprints; domestic travel increased.

The findings suggest that the four-day workweek may not end with the pilot project. Over 70% of participating organizations expressed interest in continuing the initiative, either by extending the testing phase or fully implementing the four-day workweek.

Note that the research involved three phases of data collection. The team conducted interviews and quantitative surveys with employees and organizations while also gathering physiological data, such as cortisol levels from hair samples. Organizational key metrics were analyzed, including comparisons with control groups that did not adopt the four-day week. Participants hailed from diverse sectors, including consulting, services, manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and media. Their companies' sizes ranged from fewer than ten employees to over 250. Most organizations were small (10-49 employees) or medium-sized (50-249 employees). Experiments on the four-day workweek have occurred in various countries, including the UK, Portugal, and South Africa. In partnership with the non-profit organization "4 Day Week Global," Intraprenör organized Germany’s first large-scale pilot study on the four-day week, focusing on scientifically supported trials of reduced hours at the same salary and productivity level.