Turns out working less might actually help us do more. Would you believe it?
Well, luckily there’s some evidence. New research published in Nature Human Behaviour shows that switching to a four-day workweek (without a pay cut of course) leads to happier, healthier employees who feel more confident in their jobs. The results back what many may have suspected for a while, that wellbeing at work improves when we stop ‘glorifying’ busy and start working smarter.
The study followed nearly 3,000 employees across 141 organisations in six countries, including Aotearoa, who took part in a six-month trial of the shorter workweek. The outcome showed a big boost in job satisfaction, mental and physical health, and overall performance. Employees even reported fewer sleep issues, less fatigue and a better ability to actually do their jobs.
“Traditionally, time spent working is used as a proxy for productivity, when in fact better rested and healthier people can be more productive in less time,” says Associate Professor Paula O’Kane, Otago Business School, University of Otago. “The four-day week model in this study enhanced work ability, reduced sleep problems and decreased fatigue, all of which contributed to the positive outcomes. While the study centred on a four-day week, the broader implication is clear: flexible and potentially individualised working arrangements can deliver similar benefits.
“Interestingly, many organisations who participated in the trail were not-for-profits, who often offer flexibility in lieu of higher salaries, perhaps the for-profit sector can learn from them.”
The biggest benefits were seen in people whose working hours dropped by eight or more hours a week. A whole day gone from the calendar but not from the pay packet. Even those with smaller reductions in time (1–7 hours) still noticed positive changes. And it’s not just about clocking off early on Fridays, the study credits smarter systems, less unnecessary admin and rethinking productivity as key ingredients for success.
Of course there is much reason to doubt this, and the study does note that the companies who took part were self-selected, often smaller and mostly based in English-speaking countries. That means the results might not translate across the board. But the research is still some of the most robust to date, and offers a strong case for change!
“This study sets a new standard, finding across a large sample that employee wellbeing improved over a six-month trial period when work hours were reduced, explained in part by increases in people’s perceived productivity, sleep and energy,” says Dr Dougal Sutherland, Principal Psychologist, Umbrella Wellbeing. “One important factor contributing to the trial’s success, no doubt, was that participating organisations were coached in the weeks before the trial to find smarter ways of working for staff, streamlining processes, and reducing unnecessary meetings or tasks. Reducing work hours without any supporting workplace scaffolds is unlikely to produce the same results.
“As organisations continue to look for innovative ways to improve wellbeing, this study offers a strong business case for businesses to work smarter, rather than longer, to keep workers and their work output strong.”
Whether the future of work is four days, or even something a little more flexible, one thing is clear: when people feel better, they work better. Maybe NZ’s 9–5 norm is about to change…