Better health reported on a 4-day week, study reveals
Employees working a four-day week with no reduction in pay have reported improvements in health, productivity, and overall happiness, according to a Boston College-led global study published in July 2025.
The study, titled “Work time reduction via a 4-day workweek finds improvements in workers’ well-being”, was conducted by researchers from Boston College and University College Dublin, with independent funding from various entities.
The results of the study were found in 2,896 employees over six months as they shifted to a 32-hour week instead of the conventional 40-hour week.
Participants came from 141 companies across Canada and the US, Continental Europe, Ireland and the United Kingdom, Australasia, and South Africa, with each company reorganizing workflows in advance to maintain efficiency under the shorter schedule.
Clear Improvements Reported in Health and Work Performance
The study found clear improvements in employee well-being over the course of the six-month trial. Participants reported feeling less burned out, more satisfied with their jobs, and in better mental and physical health.
Surveys were conducted before and after the trial for employees in both the four-day and five-day workweek groups, measuring factors such as mental health.
No similar changes were observed among the 12 organizations in the control group, who were kept on a five-day, 40-hour schedule throughout the trial.
Initial concerns had been raised that compressing the workweek could increase pressure on employees to perform, potentially leading to higher stress and reduced well-being.
The results, however, showed reduced stress levels among those on the four-day schedule, as participants reported improved task completion and lower fatigue.
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