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This content will become publicly available on July 21, 2026

Title: Work time reduction via a 4-day workweek finds improvements in workers’ well-being
Time spent on the job is a fundamental aspect of working conditions that influences many facets of individuals’ lives. Here we study how an organization-wide 4-day workweek intervention—with no reduction in pay—affects workers’ well-being. Organizations undergo pre-trial work reorganization to improve efficiency and collaboration, followed by a 6-month trial. Analysis of pre- and post-trial data from 2,896 employees across 141 organizations in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA shows improvements in burnout, job satisfaction, mental health and physical health—a pattern not observed in 12 control companies. Both company-level and individual-level reductions in hours are correlated with well-being gains, with larger individual-level (but not company-level) reductions associated with greater improvements in well-being. Three key factors mediate the relationship: improved self-reported work ability, reduced sleep problems and decreased fatigue. The results indicate that income-preserving 4-day workweeks are an effective organizational intervention for enhancing workers’ well-being.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2241840
PAR ID:
10636509
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Nature Human Behaviour
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nature Human Behaviour
ISSN:
2397-3374
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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