4 days a week increases productivity

new business model The one spreading in Europe might interest Brazilians (and a lot!). According to a study conducted, the Four working days It is beneficial for the workers and also for the companies that adopt this model.

Read more: A company can earn more if the week is 4 working days, study says

Coordinated by 4 Day Week Global, the study shows that a shorter work week can reduce burnout rates by up to 71%, without changing the productivity goals of the companies participating in the study. Thus, 61 British companies and 2,900 workers took part in the project.

The companies were from different fields of activity, from the financial sector, hospitality, consulting and information technology. Thus, the companies reduced the working day for six months, between June and December 2022, without changing the salaries of employees.

A shorter week increases team efficiency

a burnout syndrome It is caused by chronic stress caused by work. Among its symptoms: mental exhaustion, fatigue, and decreased productivity. The disease was included in the list of occupational diseases in January 2022 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition to lowering the burnout level of its employees, the four-day week also increased the team’s efficiency. That’s because meetings are shorter, which leads to uninterrupted focus periods and completed to-do lists at the end of the day.

An extra day served for personal organization

With the shorter workweek, employees now have an extra day to dedicate to their families and take care of themselves. As a result, six out of ten workers say it is easier to reconcile their professional and personal lives. In addition, 62% of respondents reported that the extra day off was beneficial to their social life.

When asked what activities they did on the third day of the holiday, most workers answered that they “managed life”, organizing home shopping or chores so they could rest for the weekend.

Additionally, many reported to the study that they performed recreational activities, such as volunteering, sports, and even cooking for fun. On the other hand, some study participants used the extra time to qualify themselves professionally.

The benefits are not just for the employee

Anyone who thinks companies were hurt by the study is mistaken. The data revealed that productivity targets were maintained or even increased in 95% of the companies participating in the study. Additionally, there was an average increase of 1.4% in revenue.

Another point to note is the 57% decrease in the dismissal rate of the company’s employees compared to the same period in the previous year. Thus, the four-day week promoted an improved quality of life.