Uk, Spain & Europe Trial 4-day Working Week – Do We Really Need It?

In an era wherever burnout is said to beryllium rampant and work-life equilibrium feels for illustration a myth, nan 4-day moving week is nary longer a tube dream. It’s a argumentation research sweeping Europe. 

From nan UK’s civilian work to Iceland’s nationwide rollout to caller pilots successful Germany and Spain, countries are testing nan “100-80-100” model: 100 per cent salary for 80 per cent hours, pinch nan thought of 100 per cent productivity. But do we really request this shift? Should group beryllium that averse to moving their jobs?  The assemblage is still retired arsenic world tests are wrapping up, and nan results are a mixed bag. Is nan 4-day moving week going to happen, aliases is it conscionable a fad?

Europe’s four-day workweek revolution: A 2025 snapshot

Europe is starring connected four-day workweek trials, building connected post-pandemic demands for flexibility. Iceland, for example, nan pioneer, now has 86 per cent of its workforce connected reduced hours since nan 2019 pilots and manages to screen 35 to 36 hours play without salary cuts. Belgium became nan first EU federation to legislate it successful 2022 and allowed labor to compress 38 hours into 4 days. Germany began a six-month proceedings successful February 2024 pinch 45 organisations and past expanded into 2025 pinch a caller elastic activity measure which allows labor nan correct to petition it. Spain’s €50 cardinal EU-funded nationalist pilot, which will tally done 2027, targets 200 firms for 32-hour weeks, pursuing Valencia’s 2023 occurrence wherever workers sewage “four Mondays off” via vacation modifications. The UK, while not successful nan EU, saw 11 per cent of its workforce (2.7 million) connected four-day schedules by October 2025, up from a 2022 proceedings wherever 92 per cent of companies who tried it kept it. But, does cutting nan workweek genuinely deliver?

The Pros: Why Europe’s tests are winning hearts

Early information paints a rosy picture, pinch tests consistently showing wellbeing increases and productivity staying much aliases little nan same. In Germany’s 2024-2025 pilot, participants slept 38 minutes much per week, exercised 25 minutes extra, and reduced accent by astir 90 minutes, according to wellness trackers. “Investments successful ‘new work’ salary disconnected because they summation well-being and motivation, subsequently expanding efficiency,” says Sören Fricke, cofounder of proceedings subordinate Solidsense.

As for productivity, it has been reported arsenic remaining much aliases little unchangeable aliases better. Iceland’s system grew 5 per cent successful 2023 (Europe’s second-highest rise), pinch unemployment astatine conscionable 3 per cent, each pinch little accent for workers. Spain’s pilots trim accent and use families and kids’ routines. The UK’s 2022 proceedings saw gross emergence 1.4 per cent connected average, pinch 39 per cent little stress. Globally coordinated pilots via nan 4 Day Week Global study a 92 per cent occupation retention and less sick days.

The Cons: Hidden hurdles successful Europe’s shorter workweek push

Not each soft sailing. Critics reason four-day weeks exacerbate worker shortages successful an ageing Europe, wherever Germany’s demographic is already emotion nan pinch successful immoderate sectors. “Working less hours won’t alleviate that,” warns elder economist Maximilian Schäfer, explaining pilots’ voluntary information skews nan results. Steffen Kampeter, CEO of Germany’s BDA, calls it “a important costs summation astir companies cannot afford.”

Sweden’s tests came backmost pinch mixed results; for example, a caregiver aviator required 17 other unit for six-hour days. The UK’s Asda ditched a compressed 44-hour proceedings successful 2024, and successful different sectors, 4 longer days led to exhaustion.

UK councils faced a monolithic backlash successful October 2025, pinch ministers calling for nan scrapping of tests arsenic “wasteful”. Speaking connected a TV interview, Charlie Mullins expressed really he couldn’t spot really 5 days activity could beryllium completed successful 4, and that nan UK already suffered a shortage of basal service.

On X, sceptics echo: “South Cambridgeshire Council… salaries paid mostly by those moving 5 days,” tweets @ZiaYusufUK. Long-term? Only 85 per cent successful Germany’s proceedings achieved afloat days off; 27 per cent of firms were undecided.

Do we really request it? The verdict from Europe’s frontlines

Europe’s 2025 tests propose yes, for many. With 90 per cent worker restitution and AI helping pinch output (5 to 25 per cent gains successful tech roles), it’s a triumph for unit retention. Benjamin Laker of Henley Business School says, “Work-life equilibrium improved… restitution pinch financial stableness and relationships increased.” As nan UK debates a four-day bill, Spain is looking astatine bringing successful nan conception to nan nationalist service.

Frequently asked questions

• Does nan four-day workweek trim pay? No. In astir European trials, it’s afloat salary for reduced hours, focusing connected efficiency.
• Which EU state has nan astir success? Iceland, pinch 86 per cent sum and 5 per cent GDP growth.
• Can it activity successful manufacturing? Challenging; pilots show 73 per cent retention but request tech and hiring boosts.
• What’s adjacent for 2026? Expansions successful Portugal and nan UK; EU-wide argumentation talks.

Could nan 4-day moving week beryllium nan early for Europe, aliases will it stall nan economies of nan EU area and item inefficiencies already plaguing nan system? It seems we will cognize shortly.