Four Days at Work, Same Pay
Created by Brando Oxley · 28 Aug 2026
Key Vocabulary
a work schedule with four working days in a week
The company tested a four-day workweek.
the same amount of money for work as before
Workers kept the same pay.
a test of something for a limited time
The trial lasted six months.
the time a person spends working
The new plan reduced work hours.
how healthy, comfortable and satisfied a person feels
The researchers asked workers about their well-being.
Article
Can people work fewer days and keep the same pay? A study looked at a four-day workweek in six lands. The test had 2,896 staff in 141 firms.
First, firms made daily tasks simple and easy. Then they tried the new plan for six months. The plan cut work hours without cutting pay.
Experts asked staff about their well-being. Well-being means feeling healthy and good at life. After the trial, staff felt less stress. They liked their jobs more. Body and mind health improved, too.
The test also checked 12 other firms. These firms kept a normal week. They did not see the same good changes.
Fewer hours led to better rest. People slept well and felt less tired. But one study does not mean all firms get these results.
A four-day workweek sounds easy. Still, firms fixed how they work before cutting hours. Free time works best when work is set up well.
Discussion Questions
- What would you do with an extra day away from work?
- Which parts of a job could be changed to reduce work hours?
- What helps your well-being during a busy work week?
- What would make a four-day workweek difficult in your profession?
- How should a company decide whether a six-month trial is successful?
References
- Nature Human Behaviour, "Work time reduction via a 4-day workweek finds improvements in workers’ well-being." Source
- PubMed, "Work time reduction via a 4-day workweek finds improvements in workers' well-being." Source
- Nature, "Biggest trial of four-day work week finds workers are happier and feel just as productive." Source
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