Most companies that took part in Norland's year-long four-day week trial will keep the shorter schedule, according to a final report published on Thursday, though the results were more mixed than early updates suggested.
Of the 64 companies in the pilot, 49 said they would continue with a four-day week, nine will return to five days, and six are still deciding. Staff kept their full pay while working about 32 hours a week.
"The headline is positive, but the detail matters," said Professor Jonas Lind, who led the research team. "Office-based teams adapted well. Firms with shifts or customer counters found it harder."
Key findings
| Measure | Before the trial | End of the trial |
|---|---|---|
| Staff reporting burnout | 41% | 26% |
| Average sick days per worker per year | 7.8 | 5.9 |
| Firms reporting lower revenue | — | 8 of 64 |
Workers described more time for family and errands, and fewer meetings. Some managers said they had to cut low-value tasks to make the hours work.
Critics argue the pilot included mostly firms that chose to join, which may make the results look better than they would across the whole economy. The government says it has no plans to change labour law, but will publish guidance for employers who want to try the model.
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