While many countries with 4-day work weeks have recently ended their pilot programs, places like Tokyo and Valencia, Spain are still experimenting with different ways to make the permanent long weekend a reality. Meanwhile, countries like Belgium and the UAE have legally legislated the 4-day work week for select government employees.
Recognizing an attitudinal shift in work-life culture, more and more countries are experimenting with or committing to the 4-day work week—potentially redefining the future of work. The concept is being spearheaded by the organization 4 Day Week Global, which launched its campaign in Germany in late 2023, advocating a ‘100-80-100’ model: 100% pay, 80% working hours, and 100% productivity. The trend gained momentum through successful trials in Spain, the UK, and Portugal, signaling a growing appetite for more balanced work-life dynamics. Interestingly, some participating countries, notably Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Australia, rank exceptionally high on the happiness index, scoring over 7, suggesting a strong connection between reduced working hours and overall well-being.
Countries with 4-day work weeks may seem like a revolutionary idea, but the concept has been around for some time now. Iceland set the stage with trials as early as 2015, while the pandemic highlighted the urgent need for reduced working hours. With a focus on combating burnout, boosting productivity, and cutting costs, here’s how 10 countries are leading the charge toward a new working paradigm:
Japan
Starting April 2025, Japan’s capital, Tokyo, will introduce a 4-day work week for government employees. Announced in December 2024, the initiative aims to combat the nation’s declining fertility rates, which stood at 1.2 in 2023, and prevent “karoshi,” death by overwork. This initiative can also help address Japan’s gender disparity in the workforce, where women’s participation stands at 55% compared to 72% for men. Employees have been encouraged to take three days off, with parents offered the flexibility to leave work early, fostering a healthier work-life balance.
Belgium
Belgium took a step as the first European nation to legislate a 4-day work week in 2022 under its Labor Deal, dubbed the “crown jewel” of post-pandemic recovery efforts. While employees must still clock 40 hours weekly, the policy allows them to compress their schedule into four days. A “right to disconnect” clause was also introduced, giving workers in companies with over 20 employees the freedom to ignore after-hours communication, effectively curbing stress and dissatisfaction.
Germany
Germany’s six-month pilot program in 2023-2024 saw 41 organizations implement a 4-day work week with promising results as 73% companies aimed to positively continue down the newly trodden path. Known for its efficient working culture, Germany already boasts one of the world’s shortest average work weeks, 34 hours, making it a prime candidate for broader adoption of this model.
Iceland
Iceland’s trials between 2015 and 2019 were nothing short of groundbreaking. Employees in public sector companies reduced their working hours from 40 to 35-36 per week without a pay cut. By 2022, over 51% of the country’s workforce had transitioned to a 4-day work week, with significant boosts to worker well-being and productivity. Iceland’s economy, far from suffering, has since remained one of Europe’s top performers with a steady GDP growth rate of 4.1% annually.
Denmark
Although Denmark hasn’t officially adopted a 4-day work week, it stands out as one of the shortest legal work weeks globally, at just 37 hours on average. This aligns with the country’s cultural emphasis on hygge, or creating a sense of cosiness and well-being, which fosters a strong work-life balance. The Danish Holiday Act, effective from September 2020, also grants employees up to five weeks of “concurrent holidays” annually, further promoting worker well-being.
