November 30th 2023.
The South African four-day workweek pilot program has been a resounding success, according to Bloomberg. Less than 25% of workers opted for a shortened workweek, while the remaining participants kept their regular five-day schedule.
More than 28 companies took part in the trial, offering flexible workdays. Participants were given two months of workshops, coaching, mentoring, and peer support from 4 Day Week Global before starting the six-month experiment. 71% of the participants were women, and most of them worked in professional services, IT, marketing, and financial service industries.
Boston College researchers partnered on the initiative, as employers across the globe are looking to maximize worker productivity. According to Professor Juliet Schor, the lead quantitative researcher at Boston College, the results have been impressive. Employees reported improved well-being, stress levels, work-family balance, and sleep quality, and even reported an increase in productivity without any increase in work intensity.
In order to take part in the experiment, employees had to commit to delivering the same output as their regular five-day schedule, but with 20% less time. Despite initial skepticism, 92% of the employers decided to keep the four-day workweek permanently.
"This research represents a pivotal moment not just for South Africa but for the entire continent and global community," said 4 Day Week Global CEO Dr Dale Whelehan. With these positive results, more employers may consider implementing shorter workweeks in the future.
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