What in the World Could a four-day work week become the new norm?
Sep 25, 2025
Sofia Bettiza, the BBC's Global Health reporter, dives into the fascinating realm of the four-day work week. She discusses how a recent study reveals significant wellbeing improvements, sparking debates over its adoption. Bettiza explores cultural differences in work hours, from the grueling 996 schedule in China to innovative trials in countries like Iceland and France. Additionally, she examines the challenges of implementing this model in various job sectors and how the pandemic has reshaped worker expectations toward a greater work-life balance.
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Historical Roots Of The Five-Day Week
- The five-day week emerged about 100 years ago from factory labour struggles and employer experiments like Ford's.
- Work patterns suited an industrial age and may no longer fit modern economies.
Adopt The 180-100 Principle
- Aim for 180-100: keep pay at 100% while cutting time to 80% and maintaining productivity.
- Achieve this by eliminating wasted time with shorter meetings and smarter tech use.
Large Trial Showed Strong Positive Results
- Boston College studied 141 companies across several Western countries and found big wellbeing gains from four-day trials.
- About 90% of participants chose to continue the shorter week after the trial ended.