Europe’s Four-Day Workweek Trials Gain Momentum

A multi-industry pilot in Germany tested a four-day workweek with full-time pay, revealing no drop in productivity and surprising boosts to staff morale. As many as 73% of participating companies have now adopted the shorter schedule permanently. Japan’s Tokyo Metropolitan government recently followed suit, announcing an optional four-day week for public employees. These international successes illustrate how a condensed schedule can support employee retention and mental well-being without sacrificing output. Skeptics warn that certain sectors may struggle to compress workloads into fewer days. Still, the growing body of evidence suggests a broader rethinking of standard 9-to-5 patterns might be on the horizon.