Scotland Testing Four-Day Workweek

Support is growing for rethinking the traditional standards and expectations of modern work. Numerous companies—and even countries—have been trialing a four-day workweek, and most are seeing resounding successes. Add to that growing list Scotland, which recently announced it will be experimenting with the truncated schedule. The Scottish National Party is making good on its promise to reduce hours by 20 percent without any impact on wages. Spain, New Zealand, Japan, and Iceland have all tried a four-day workweek to much success and popular approval. The new schedule also has had a positive effect on productivity. New Zealand, in particular, saw a boost in productivity by about 20 percent, with employees feeling their new schedules improved their work-life balance and reduced burnout. However, not every locale that’s tested the four-day workweek has seen similar results. Sweden’s trial was lackluster, and employers resisted the change. They have since abandoned the abbreviated workweek and have gone back to more established models.