Work Less, Do More: Countries Embracing the 4-Day Work Week

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In today’s world, where work-life balance is becoming a top priority, several innovative approaches have been adopted to achieve this goal. Across continents, particularly in Asia, Europe, and Oceania, employees in a 4 day work week country are enjoying the benefits of working fewer hours while maintaining high productivity.

What was once a pilot program is now becoming increasingly common, with companies in these countries regularly offering a 4-day workweek.

List of Countries Embracing the 4-Day Work Week

Condé Nast Traveler and Tech.co both mention Belgium as a 4 day work week country. Other nations stepping up with the similar initiatives include:

1. Belgium

Belgium became the first 4 day work week country in Europe, following legislation passed in 2022. Employees can fulfill their 40-hour workweek by condensing their hours from five days into four. This bold move aims to improve work-life balance while maintaining productivity levels.

2. UAE

Starting in January 2022, the United Arab Emirates made headlines by shifting its government employees workweek to just four days. With government-employed workers making up nearly 90% of the country’s workforce, this approach has been widely implemented.

3. Iceland

Iceland took the global spotlight when it launched a nationwide trial of the 4-day workweek in between 2015 and 2019. The success didn’t end there; according to LIVE Now Fox, 78% of workers in Iceland reported being satisfied with the four-day workweek conducted between 2020 and 2022. This, therefore, lets Icelandic workers enjoy shorter workweeks as a permanent fixture of their employment. 

3. Japan

A newcomer to the scene is Japan, specifically Tokyo, which plans to adopt a 4-day workweek starting in April 2025. The initiative, first announced in December 2024, aims to address the country's significant decline in fertility rates. According to Fortune, the shift has helped improve housework equity, which was previously heavily skewed toward women, with men now spending 23% more time on housework.

4. Germany

Germany is another four day work week country in Europe, having conducted a pilot program from 2023 to 2024 across 41 companies. The results showed that over 70% of these companies decided to continue with the approach, and more than half of the participants reported improvements in their quality of life. Germany is also well-known among the best countries for job prospects.

5. Denmark

Denmark has long been synonymous with a strong emphasis on employee well-being. Despite the lack of official legislation on the 4-day workweek, Denmark has emerged as a frontrunner in promoting this format to enhance a balanced lifestyle. While the Odsherred municipality has already adopted shorter workweeks since 2019, Copenhagen launched its own trial in 2024.

6. Australia

As one of the best countries to work abroad, Australia is gradually stepping into the 4-day workweek movement. A 2022 experiment showed positive outcomes in terms of employee satisfaction and productivity, leading to plans for mainstream adoption within the next five years. The main objective is undoubtedly to foster a strong work-life balance.

7. Spain

Spain has been discussing the possibility of a nationwide 4-day workweek, following the 2023 pilot in Valencia. By the end of 2025, weekly work hours will be reduced from 40 to 37.5 for approximately 12 million employees across the country, without any changes to wages.

8. Netherlands

Another 4 day work week country in Europe, the Netherlands has software company Afas leading the way. Starting on January 1, 2025, Afas views this working arrangement as a promising innovation to encourage employees to prioritize self-care while also boosting productivity, as noted by Computer Weekly.

9. United Kingdom

Around 200 companies have committed to offering a permanent four-day workweek to all employees without any reduction in pay, as reported in The Guardian January 2025 article. This major shift didn't happen overnight; in 2022, the UK conducted the world’s largest 4-day workweek experiment, involving more than 3,000 companies across over 60 countries.

The 4-day workweek is more than just a passing trend—it's becoming a serious consideration for countries worldwide. From Belgium to the UAE, Iceland to Japan, these nations are embracing the idea that fewer hours can mean more productivity, happiness, and innovation.

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