How Well Does a 4-Day Workweek Work? Ask Iceland!

The idea of a four-day workweek (where employees work the same schedule, minus one day a week) has long been campaigned for, with numerous anecdotes supporting its efficacy. One very successful example is provided by the nation of Iceland, which implemented initial trials of reduced work with just under 1 percent of its population, or about 2,500 people, back in 2015. 

These efforts have increased over the years, and today, almost 90% of Icelandic workers work 36 hours per week with no negative ramifications to the economy. In fact, Iceland’s society has enjoyed significant benefits during this experiment.

Let’s review what effects this experiment has had.

Spoiler Alert: The Shorter Work Week Has Worked Very Well for Iceland

While many areas that implement a shorter workweek do so by simply lengthening the days that an employee works to account for the missing day, Iceland actively avoided this approach, with no change to the compensation that workers received as if they had worked a five-day workweek.

The results span a wide range, from social benefits to workplace advantages.

Worker Wellness Has Significantly Improved

With reductions in reported stress levels, the mental health of Iceland’s workers experienced direct impacts, accompanied by various social benefits. For instance:

• The additional time has helped make Icelandic lifestyles inherently more balanced and happier across all age groups and professions.
• Job satisfaction has risen while burnout has reduced.
• Health has increased by diminishing workplace stress.
• Communities have become stronger with more time for community involvement.
• People are using their additional time to pursue educational opportunities.
• More time is available to balance between responsibilities and personal hobbies.
• Family relationships have grown stronger with parents being more equitably engaged.

These sustainable practices have inspired many European countries to follow suit with their own pilot programs focused on replicating and adapting Iceland’s efforts in a way that reflects and respects their economic differences.

A Shorter Week is Better for the Workplace, Too

Several factors have clearly contributed to the improvement of how businesses operate in Iceland.

For instance, as the years have passed, Iceland has also invested in infrastructure that enables ubiquitous connectivity everywhere. So, in addition to the propensity for remote work from anywhere, many workers—especially those entering the workforce from the younger generations—were already poised to utilize cloud-based and automated tools, all of which help speed up various operations.

This all demonstrates that working smarter does, in fact, beat working harder—or, in this case, working longer.

This was boosted by the acknowledgement that an employee, given the chance to do some real R&R, was simply better able to do their job. By embracing modern, more efficient technology, more could be accomplished in less time and with greater results.

Iceland’s Experiment Seems to Prove that More Isn’t Always Better

That said, it is key to acknowledge how Iceland has achieved these results.

Critically, Iceland as a whole, including its governmental development in digital infrastructure, demonstrates an appreciation for what the right technology can do when applied correctly. A human-centric work model does, in fact, work… as almost 100 percent of the country’s workforce proves each and every day. It just needs the support of the right infrastructure.

Virtual Business Solutions can help you establish the technology infrastructure your business needs, helping you maintain it as your outsourced IT department. To learn more about the technologies we can help you adopt, reach out to us at (504) 840-9800 ext. 105.