4-Day Workweek: What Really Works? - Mar 17, 2025

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀 While some chase gold at the end of the rainbow, HR pros know the real treasure — a well-rested workforce. Can a 4-day week boost productivity? Let’s look at real-world results…

On the agenda: 

⏰ 4-Day Workweek: Real-world results and examples.

🤓 A SMART Employee Plan: Meaningful growth with this bundle.

🔀 Blame-Shifting: The phenomenon impacting workplace culture.

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

Real-World Results of the 4-Day Workweek: What Really Works?

The concept of a 4-day workweek has gained momentum globally over the last few years, with various companies and countries experimenting with reduced working hours without compromising pay. This shift aims to enhance productivity and employee well-being —almost 8 in 10 workers report that being the case.

A few examples of countries and major organizations who have trialed or adopted 4-day workweek policies:

• United Kingdom: In 2022, 61 companies involving around 2,900 workers participated in a six-month test. The results were promising, with many companies reporting sustained productivity and improved employee morale.

• Australia: Companies like Medibank and Raisely in Australia have adopted the 4-day workweek, reporting improvements in employee happiness, health, and efficiency.

• Buffer: The social media management company piloted a 4-day workweek in 2020 and, after evaluating key performance indicators, made it a permanent policy. They found that productivity remained steady, and employee stress levels decreased significantly.

• Microsoft: Microsoft Japan implemented a 4-day workweek in 2019, resulting in a 4x increase in productivity.

• Kickstarter: The crowdfunding platform implemented a 4-day workweek to improve work-life balance and employee happiness.

Should HRs Support It? A 4-day workweek can boost productivity, well-being, and talent appeal, but it’s important to remember that industry and cultural fit matters. Adopting a pilot program is one effective way to help assess feasibility. While 4-day workweeks have been shown to boost morale, maintaining a balanced workload is essential to fully realize their benefits.

Learn more about implementing a 4-day workweek at HRAddict:

MONDAY’S STEAL

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Raise your team’s levels and drive growth with HRAddict’s SMART Goals Employee Development Plan bundle. 

• Boost Engagement & Productivity: Streamline goal-setting and align employee objectives with company values.

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• Foster Growth: Drive accountability, professional development, and a results-focused culture.

• Effective for Any Team: From startups to enterprises, nurture a high-performing workforce effortlessly.

This community promo ends March 19 — midnight EST.

TREND WATCH

The Blame-Shifting Phenomenon in Workplace Culture & its Impact

HR Brew — A recent study exposes a striking paradox HR professionals may want to take note of: While nearly two-thirds of employees tell of being thrown under the bus by their colleagues, most people deny ever engaging in such behavior themselves.

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💪 HR Pros Understaffed but Thriving, Says Report — 6 in 10 HR professionals report being overworked, yet over half feel effective. AI emerges as a potential remedy. [HR Dive]

🌊 The AI Tsunami: HR's Role in Shaping Work's Future — Exploring how HR can navigate the rapid integration of AI in the workplace. [HRM Asia]

🍏 Apple Bucks Trend, Affirms DEI Support — Apple's shareholders overwhelmingly vote to retain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, with the majority opposing. [Smoky Mountain]

📈 More Employees Than Ever Engaged at Work — Recent surveys indicate a rise in employee engagement levels across various industries. [Workplace Insight]

⚡ Critical Skills Enhancement Paves the Way for Electrification — Michael Page's talent trends highlight the need for skills development in the electrification sector. [FE News]

HR WISDOM

30 Important Work Perks and Benefits to Keep Employees Happy

Employees nowadays want more than just a paycheck at the end of the month. They want to be engaged, do meaningful work and be part of a company they believe in.

And by meeting their needs as an employer, you don’t just keep employees engaged (effectively retaining top talent) but you also build your employer brand and make your company more attractive to prospective employees.

To achieve this, many companies have started offering a unique set of perks and benefits to their staff. But which are the most important to employees and jobseekers alike? Which should you add to your benefits package?

BREAKROOM