Work Week Revolution: Shorter Days, Bigger Smiles
From Seven to Four (and Still Getting Paid)
It might sound like a sugar‑capped fantasy, but entrepreneurs around the globe have already tried trimming their work week. The results? More productivity, a dash of motivation, and burnout that’s practically a myth.
Why We’re Not Just Hanging Around
- Berlin’s Planio got its crew into a four‑day grind this year—no one’s asking for a pay cut, just a shorter week of hustle.
- New Zealand’s Perpetual Guardian tested a 32‑hour schedule and swore their teams were less stressed, more engaged.
- Even Japan’s government is nudging firms to give Monday mornings a pause, though some experiments have fizzled.
- Britain’s TUC is lobbying for a nationwide four‑day shift by 2100, backed by the Labour opposition.
“We’re Not Doing a Sprint, We’re Doing a Sprint‑Independent”
“Working crazy hours feels like a workout for the soul—turns out we’re healthier when we actually get work done,” Jan Schulz‑Hofen, founder of Planio, says. “I didn’t get less done in four days than in five. Instead, I started thinking twice about every pause.”
The Digital Overload Dilemma
- Lucie Greene points out that Elon Musk’s tweet—“nobody changed the world on 40 hours a day”—sparks a backlash.
- Survey data from 3,000 employees across 8 countries shows that almost half believe they could finish daily tasks in just five hours if they weren’t constantly interrupted.
- But the same people are squeezing over 40 hours a week into that five‑hour ideal, especially in the U.S., where 49% reported overtime.
Burnout’s Fine‑Printing Problem
Dan Schawbel from Future Workplace warns, “We’ve seen work creep. Technology gives us the excuse to stay glued. That leads to the flame‑retired employee.”
Case in Point: Planio’s Experiment
Schulz‑Hofen tried a four‑day week for himself first, realizing that one week’s worth of output could actually be squeezed into just four days—if you keep your patience on standby.
- No flexible hours—that just adds paperwork.
- No “five‑day flow” where people stretch their week over and over again, re‑introducing overwork.
- Friday contacts get a recorded explanation instead of a person.
Client Reaction
“We got an unexpected reaction from clients. Most didn’t complain. Instead, they were just jealous,” Schulz‑Hofen notes. The point is, people are proud when they see efficiency—and it didn’t feel like a cut.
WPP’s Grey New York Event
In April, ads giant Grey New York offered staff an 85% pay‑back for four‑day weeks. It’s proof that the idea can link to tangible numbers.
Where Do We Stand?
Schawbel thinks the trend will spread globally, though he predicts the U.S. might lag. “Monday mornings are devilishly ingrained in America’s work culture,” he says. But the evidence is slowly flipping that paradigm.
TUC Argues for a Shared Future
Kate Bell, an economic head at TUC, frames it: “A shorter week is a way for workers to share the wealth of technology—like how the industrial revolution gave us weekends.” She also highlights family balance and gender equality as top perks.
Bottom Line
Work‑week experiments are a real thing, not a perpetual day‑dream. Companies that successfully drop a day—and keep the salary—report higher productivity, less burnout, and an overall happier team. The next big leap? Showing the world that a shorter week is not just a pit stop, but a full‑blown race to a healthier workplace.
