20 Essential 4-day Workweek Statistics [2023]: Benefits + Revenue

Research Summary: The five-day workweek has been normalized for a long time, but there are many benefits that come with a four-day workweek. From having more time off to valuable expense cuts, this article will explore all of the essential facts about the four-day workweek. According to our extensive research:

• Only 5% of Americans say they work four days per week.

• Four-day workweeks increase productivity by 20%.

• Employees have their stress levels decrease by 27% when they try a four-day workweek.

• Implementing a four-day workweek increases company revenue by approximately 1.4%.

For further analysis, we broke down the data in the following ways:
Benefits | Employee Opinions | Company Opinions

Benefits of a 4-day Workweek

There are many benefits that come with adopting a four-day workweek, and not just for employees. To find out more about these benefits, here are some key facts:

• A 4-day workweek causes the electricity bill to decrease by 20%.

  This equates to an average of $132 per month, and $1,584 a year, which is a significant saving for small companies especially.

• 71% of companies say a four-day workweek helps them attract and retain employees with children and other care responsibilities.

  A four-day workweek can make a big difference for employees caring for children, elderly parents, or anyone else. That extra day off acts as a strong incentive for these workers.

• 57% of employees will upskill outside of work.

  An extra day off work gives the majority of employees an opportunity to pursue training outside of work. And, as it turns out, most employees will improve their skills when given the opportunity.

• Switching from a five to four-day workweek reduces a company’s carbon footprint by up to 17.2%.

  Studies have shown that a mere 10% reduction in work hours has the ability to decrease a company’s carbon footprint by 8.6%. With 20% fewer hours, the carbon footprint can be reduced by over 17%.

• After switching from a five to a four-day workweek, companies see an average 34% increase in revenue year-over-year.

  During the same time period, companies see a significant increase in revenue related to the length of the workweek. An increase of 34% can mean the difference between making $150,000 or $201,000.

• Only 23% of four-day workweek employees always feel burnt out.

  Comparably, 26% of those who work five days per week always feel burnt out, and a whopping 38% of employees who work six days per week always feel burnt out.

  Employee Wellbeing By Number of Days Worked

  Workweek	Engaged	Disengaged	Positive wellbeing	Always burnt out
  4-day	38%	17%	63%	23%
  5-day	38%	12%	57%	26%
  6-day	36%	17%	56%	38%

Employee Opinions on 4-day Workweeks

Four-day workweeks are incredibly popular with employees, and there are many reasons why. Here are some examples of how employees feel about a four-day workweek and how the four-day workweek ultimately affects them:

• 78% of employees report being happier with a four-day workweek.

  In addition to being happier overall, 73% of employees also state that a four-day workweek makes them happier with their lives in and outside of work.

• 70% of employees report less stress with a four-day workweek.

  Stress can do severe damage to an employee’s ability to perform, with stressed employees having 60% higher rates of absenteeism and productivity cut by up to 77%. Luckily, a four-day workweek reduces stress by a significant amount.

• 65% of employees take fewer sick days with a four-day workweek.

  Less stress and improved happiness lead employees to call out less, as companies with a four-day workweek report fewer sick and personal days.

• A 4-day workweek increases employee work-life balance by 45%.

  And it’s not hard to understand why, as a four-day workweek equates to 52 more days off on average. A five-day workweek will mean an employee would have 104 days off on average, while someone with a four-day workweek will have 156 days off on average.

• 73% of employees say a 4-day workweek leads them to be more productive.

  Given that a 10% increase in productivity can lead to a 20% increase in revenue, having employees report improved productivity is an amazing plus for everyone.

• 15% of 4-day workweek employees say no amount of money would convince them to return to a 5-day workweek.

  Money drives 45% of employee participation, and yet some four-day workweek employees are unwilling to revert back to a five-day workweek, even for a higher rate of compensation.

Company Opinions on 4-day Workweeks

As shown by the facts outlined so far, there are many benefits associated with implementing a four-day workweek. However, for companies specifically, here are some important factors to consider in the context of this niche schedule:

• Over 85% of companies who participated in a 4-day workweek trial period were likely to keep using it.

  Of the 41 companies who participated in the trial, 35 said they were either “likely” or “extremely likely” to maintain the four-day workweek model even after the study’s conclusion.

• 95% of companies said productivity improved after implementing a 4-day workweek.

  Of the 41 companies who participated in the study, 39 said their productivity improved. And of those 39 companies, six said productivity improved significantly (just under 15%).

• The main reason companies don’t implement a 4-day workweek is fear of condensed hours.

  While most four-day workweek studies show an increase in productivity, there is an unfortunate risk that trying to condense the same 35-40 hours in four days instead of five days can actually lead to an increase in burnout and a decrease in productivity.

  Ideally, a four-day schedule should lead to no more than 30 hours of work, but this can also lead to issues with full-time benefits and scheduling.

• 40% of companies have or plan to have a 4-day workweek in 2023.

  Four-day workweeks are rapidly becoming more popular, with nearly half of all companies now planning to implement them in some form.

4-day Workweek FAQ

1. What companies are experimenting with a 4-day workweek?

   There are over 250 major companies in the US experimenting with a four-day workweek. To highlight some of the biggest players in this experimentation, we’ve made a comprehensive list:

   • Toshiba. This Japanese company has been offering four-day workweeks since May 2020. This policy applies to workers in Toshiba plants and allows them to work 10 hours per day for four days instead of 8 hours for five days.

   • Shopify. This company is experimenting with seasonal four-day workweeks, as employees receive every Friday off during the summer months.

   • Basecamp. Basecamp also provides a four-day workweek in the summer and has been doing so for a decade. This makes the company one of the original front-runners of four-day workweek experimentation.

   • Amazon. Between 2021-2022, nearly one-third of all Amazon job listings mentioned a four-day workweek. This exemplifies how even the largest companies are taking an interest in the new schedule.

   • Bolt. This company tested a four-day workweek in 2021 with overwhelmingly positive results. This led the company to embrace a full four-day workweek schedule in January 2022.

   There are many more companies that offer four-day workweeks, and the trend is only continuing to grow. There may be many more major players who decide to experiment in the future.

2. How effective is a 4-day workweek?

   Four-day workweeks are very effective in reducing burnout and increasing productivity. To highlight just how effective a properly introduced four-day workweek can be, here are some examples of the benefits:

   • 70% decrease in employee stress

   • 65% fewer sick days/callouts

   • 73% of employees reporting increased productivity

   • 34% increase in company revenue year-over-year

   • 20% decrease in electricity bill and 17% decreased carbon footprint

   And these are just a few examples of how a four-day workweek can be highly effective for the companies that implement them.

3. What are the disadvantages of a 4-day workweek?

   There are a few disadvantages that can come with a four-day workweek, especially in the context of hours worked. While most four-day workweek schedules show an increase in productivity and a decrease in burnout, those that attempt to cram the same number of hours into fewer days can actually have the opposite effect.

   Here are some other disadvantages:

   • Lack of customer support during days off

   • Schedule may not fit the needs of certain professions (e.g. teachers)

   • Issues with full-time benefits

   • Fewer hours can be achieved without a four-day workweek

   • Benefits may not be as pronounced after a trial period

4. What are the top reasons for a 4-day workweek?

   The top reasons for a four-day workweek will vary based on the company, but there are some common favorites. Here are our top picks for the reasons why companies choose to implement a four-day workweek:

   • An increase in productivity, which leads to an increase in revenue

   • Reduced employee burnout and turnover

   • Decreased utility costs for companies

   • Improved morale and company culture

   • Increased work-life balance for employers and employees

Conclusion

Though the four-day workweek has been the standard for decades, companies are starting to see the benefits of a four-day workweek. As of 2023, 40% of companies either already have or plan to implement some form of the four-day workweek.

And there’s a reason why employees under this new schedule report a 70% decrease in stress, a 45% increase in work-life balance, and 73% say they’re more productive. This matters to companies, who stand to see a 34% increase in year-over-year revenue by experimenting with a four-day workweek.

Of course, there are risks and concerns associated with a four-day workweek, but many of the potential benefits seem to outway the cons. In the end, it’s important for individual companies to experiment with new ideas in order to determine what’s most effective in the workplace.

References

1. Gallup – Is the 4 Day Work Week a Good Idea?

2. Emburse – Here’s How Much A 4-Day Work Week Saves On Business Expenses

3. SHRM – Workers Seek to Upskill—With or Without Employers’ Help

4. BBC – The climate benefits of a four-day workweek

5. USA Today – Employers tried a 4-day workweek program. Employees said they were healthier and happier.

6. Scientific American – A Four-Day Workweek Reduces Stress without Hurting Productivity

7. Wbur – Could a four-day work week work in the United States?

8. New York Times – 4-Day Workweek Brings No Loss of Productivity, Companies in Experiment Say

9. Change – The Pros and Cons of a 4 Day Working Week

10. CNBC – The four-day workweek is new standard for 40% of companies, EY survey finds

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.