The idea of a permanent three-day weekend has long been a dream for workers around the world and now, it’s slowly becoming a reality. As work culture continues to change over time, especially post-pandemic, the global push for a four-day work week has serious consideration. More and more countries, companies, and employees are starting to rethink what productivity and a healthy work-life balance should look like.
This novel 4-day workweek follows a “100-80-100” model. It means workers get 100% of their pay, 80% of the time, while still getting their work done at 100% efficiency. It is being led by a group called ‘4 Day Week Global’, which started off as a major campaign in Germany in late 2023, and has already seen success in places like Spain, Portugal, and the UK.
Even some of the happiest countries in the world like Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands are leading this change. The movement doesn’t just reduce burnout but also improves mental health, increases job satisfaction, and in many cases, even boosts output. With growing evidence pointing to the benefits, the four-day workweek could very Completely change and revamp the future of work. Here are a few countries that have adopted the new 4-day work week regime.
In response to Japan’s increasing demographic crisis, Tokyo has introduced a four-day workweek for government employees to improve work-life balance and address the country’s declining birth rate, with effect from April 2025. Apart from this, a new “childcare partial leave” policy also allows working parents to reduce their workday by two hours, making it easier to manage childcare.
Governor Yuriko Koike emphasized the importance of flexible workstyles so women aren’t forced to choose between careers and family. Japan is struggling to sustain its population with a national fertility rate of just 1.2 and an even lower 0.99 in Tokyo. One major factor contributing to the imbalance in unpaid domestic work, is that Japanese women handle five times more household tasks than men. The four-day week could help by encouraging men to share more responsibilities at home. While promising, experts like Julia Hobsbawm stress that such policies aren’t one-size-fits-all and must be tailored to different work environments and cultural norms.
Belgium became the first European country to pass a four-day work week into law in 2022 as part of its post-COVID Labor Deal. Employees can now compress their 40-hour week into four days without a pay cut. The reform also introduced a “right to disconnect,” allowing workers at larger companies to ignore work messages after hours. This legal framework is designed to reduce burnout and promote mental health by ensuring employees truly get time to rest and recharge.Another notable aspect is that both employers and employees must agree on the four-day arrangement—it isn’t automatic. The schedule is reviewed every six months, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of both parties and can be adjusted if necessary.
While Denmark hasn’t formally rolled out a four-day week, its average work week is already just 37 hours. The country places high value on ‘hygge’, a lifestyle of comfort and balance, which is seen in its workplace culture. Danish workers also enjoy up to five weeks of concurrent paid holidays, which comes under a 2020 law. This increases a strong sense of work-life harmony, proving that reduced hours and flexible time off can contribute greatly to national happiness and productivity.
