Imagine waking up on a Friday with no alarm, no commute, and no work emails, because your weekend just got a whole day longer. That’s not a daydream anymore; it’s reality for thousands of workers around the world.
From Dubai to Tokyo, governments and companies are experimenting with the four-day work week and the results are impressive. Productivity hasn’t collapsed and in many cases, it’s gone up. Employees are happier, sick days are down, and some businesses are even reporting higher profits.
Here’s a tour of 10 countries testing the idea that reduced work hours might actually be the key to working better.
1. Iceland
Iceland set the start for the global debate. Between 2015 and 2019, Iceland ran extensive trials involving more than 2,500 workers, roughly 1% of its workforce. Cutting weekly hours from 40 to around 35 or 36, without reducing pay. According to a joint study by Alda and Autonomy, productivity and service provision either remained the same or improved in the majority of workplaces. Workers reported less stress and burnout and a better work-life balance. By 2022, roughly 59% of Iceland’s workforce had either moved to shorter hours or gained the right to request them.
2. United Kingdom
The UK hosted the world’s largest four-day work week trial in 2022, involving 61 companies and nearly 3,000 employees. Organized by 4 Day Week Global, the trial used the “100:80:100” model — 100% pay, 80% of the hours, with a commitment to maintain 100% productivity. The results were striking: 92% of participating companies continued with the four-day week after the pilot ended, and more than half made the change permanent. Revenue across these companies rose 1.4% on average, while staff turnover fell and hiring became easier. Employee well-being improved too: 71% reported lower levels of burnout and 39% said they were less stressed.
3. Spain
Spain has taken a proactive approach by offering financial incentives to companies willing to test a four-day week. A pilot program launched in 2022 allowed small and medium-sized businesses to apply for subsidies if they reduced working hours by at least 10% without cutting salaries. Although initial uptake was modest, regions like Valencia have embraced the idea, running their own programs and gathering data on productivity and employee well-being.
4. Japan
Japan has long battled with extreme work culture, and a four-day work week is seen as part of the solution. Major corporations like Panasonic have offered employees the option to work four days, and the Tokyo metropolitan government began offering a 4-day week option to some municipal employees in 2024. The goal is to combat burnout, improve mental health, and boost the country’s falling birth rate.
5. United Arab Emirates
Starting from July 1, 2025 the UAE became the first country to officially move its federal government to a shorter workweek, switching to four-and-a-half days and making Friday a half-day.
Dubai has gone further by experimenting with a full four-day week for some government employees during summer months. While the private sector hasn’t adopted this widely, the UAE’s top-down approach is being watched closely as a test case for the region.
6. Belgium
Belgium passed a law in 2022 giving employees the right to compress their workweek into four days. The total weekly hours remain the same, so workers do longer days but enjoy a three-day weekend
While it doesn’t cut hours, it provides flexibility and early feedback suggests it helps parents and caregivers balance responsibilities more effectively.
7. Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic made headlines in 2023 with a six-month pilot reducing the workweek from 44 to 36 hours (Monday to Thursday) for selected public and private-sector workers, with no pay cut. The results were overwhelmingly positive: 95.3% of workers said their quality of life improved, and 93.8% said they used the extra time productively. Stress levels dropped by 7.6%, and 91% of companies maintained productivity without hiring extra staff.
8. Australia
Australia doesn’t have a national policy yet, but dozens of companies have joined four-day week trials with encouraging outcomes. Many reported better morale, reduced absenteeism, and improved recruitment. Employees consistently said they felt less stressed and more engaged with their work.
9. Portugal
Portugal has been experimenting with shorter workweeks in its public sector, particularly in the Azores, where some employees now work 32 hours a week. Early findings show that public services remain efficient and employee satisfaction is higher.
10. Germany
Germany hasn’t implemented a nationwide four-day week, but the conversation is gaining momentum. Several large companies have run pilots, and IG Metall, the country’s largest trade union, has called for reduced hours to address worker shortages and improve quality of life.
What’s clear from these experiments is that the four-day work week is no longer a fringe concept. Whether through government pilots, corporate experiments, or legal reforms, countries are rethinking the way we work. While models vary, some cut hours and others compress them, the direction is consistent. More focus on outcomes and less on clock-watching.
