Learnings from Companies at the Forefront of Work-Time Reduction 
Now that the Post-Industrial Age is here, bringing with it the talent shortage, influence of employee agency, and innovation potential with AI, we’ve experienced enough change in business to warrant reconsideration of the work-time reduction model. Moreover, as our study revealed, the exponential impact on business is all positive.
Our recent study in collaboration with the Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence, is available in The Four-Day Work Week: Learnings from Companies at the Forefront of Work-Time Reduction report. The study explores the history of the reduced-hour work week and sets the stage to understand how it will support a company’s growth and revenues in today’s age.
Over the years, the concept of reducing the number of hours worked each week has surfaced many times. Although the four-day work week has received the most attention, there are a variety of different additional models around the world. Examples include 6-hour workdays, job-sharing arrangements, 9-day fortnights, half-day Fridays, flexible or ‘freedom’ Fridays, and summer Fridays off.
Regardless of method, reduced worktime approaches strive to empower organizations through efficiency, productivity, and employee engagement.
The companies we spoke to were transparent about their challenges and opportunities, each requiring strategic solutions as they embarked on the new work-time model. The overwhelming majority were happy with the outcomes, citing numerous benefits and unexpected results, and have made the model permanent.
Reduced work-time schedules result in:
- Double-digit productivity and work output increases
- Reduced sick days and turnover of employees
- Higher customer satisfaction
- Marked decrease of employee stress and burnout
- Additional recruiting power and better retention
In analyzing the results of the study and interviews with leaders from companies around the globe, plus expert insights from Joe O’Connor, CEO & Co-Founder at Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence, and John Trougakos, Professor at the University of Toronto, we developed guiding principles to help companies evaluate a reduced-hour work week for their organization. The report includes numerous consideration checkpoints for you to understand the need to redesign work for productivity, refine company policies and norms, and set employee and leadership expectations.
In every company we spoke to, the most successful of them started with a well-defined pilot program. In this report, our Action Guide will get you started and share how to:
- Create a worktime reduction pilot for your company
- Get buy-in from leadership and employees, and
- Create strong and clear metrics for success.
Complete with numerous case studies, this report thoroughly examines the reduced-hour work week and its proven advantages.
Submit the form below to receive the full Four-Day Work Week: Learnings from Companies at the Forefront of Work-Time Reduction report. Once you’ve read it, you’ll see what we saw—an opportunity to stay ahead in this new era and adapt easily to the demands of the market and employees.
Download the complimentary Four-Day Work Week report and indicate your interest in a Corporate Membership for hands-on, custom support from the Josh Bersin Company experts now:
