73% of German companies that tried a Four-Day Workweek will keep the schedule as productivity scores were higher: A new era for work?
Berlin — In a bold move to redefine the workweek, 45 German companies embarked on a six-month trial of a four-day work schedule.
The results are in, and they’re stirring up conversations across boardrooms and break rooms alike.
A staggering 73% of these companies have decided to stick with the shorter week, citing maintained productivity and happier, healthier employees.
Why Germany?
Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, faces a skilled labor shortage and declining productivity.
High energy costs and a competitive job market have pushed companies to rethink traditional work models.
The four-day workweek trial was seen as a potential solution, aiming to boost employee engagement and attract talent. Could fewer hours lead to better outcomes?
The Trial: By the Numbers
Organized by Intraprenör and 4 Day Week Global, with academic oversight from the University of Münster, the trial began in February 2024.
It involved 45 companies across industries like professional services (36%), manufacturing (18%), and healthcare (13%).
Company sizes varied: 13% were micro (fewer than 9 employees), 54% small (10-49), 19% medium (50-249), and 14% large (over 250).
The trial followed the “100-80-100” principle: employees worked 80% of their usual hours for 100% pay, aiming to maintain 100% productivity.
Companies had flexibility in implementation. Some applied the model to all employees, while 40% limited it to specific teams.
Work hours were reduced variably: 34% cut a full day, 20% reduced by 11-19%, and 46% by 10% or less, roughly 4 hours per week.
| Trial Statistics | Details |
|---|---|
| Participating Companies | 45, across professional services (36%), manufacturing (18%), healthcare (13%) |
| Company Sizes | 13% micro (<9 employees), 54% small (10-49), 19% medium (50-249), 14% large (>250) |
| Work Hour Reduction | 34% by 20%, 20% by 11-19%, 46% by ≤10% |
| Implementation | 60% entire workforce, 40% selected teams |
| Adoption Post-Trial | 39% adopted permanently, 34% extended pilot, 20% discontinued, 7% undecided |
Productivity Holds Steady — or Rises
Skeptics feared a drop in output, but the trial proved otherwise. Productivity remained stable or improved for most companies.
“We optimized our processes and cut down on unnecessary meetings,” said a manufacturing leader.
Two-thirds of companies reported fewer distractions due to streamlined workflows. Over half reduced meeting frequency or length, and a quarter adopted new digital tools.
Self-reported productivity scores were higher for the four-day group (7.69) compared to the control group (6.83, p=0.002).
Financial performance, including revenue and profit, stayed consistent, suggesting productivity per hour increased.
“Our sales in March and April were the same as last year,” noted a professional services manager.
Employees Thrive
Employees were the trial’s biggest winners. “I have significantly less stress because I can simply use Friday to relax more,” said a food industry worker.
Another from manufacturing added, “The advantage for me is that I can spend my free time engaging in sports activities. Thus, my work-life balance has significantly improved”.
Data supports these sentiments. Employees slept 38 minutes more per week, took 1,848 extra steps weekly, and reported 89 fewer minutes of high stress per week.
Over 90% noted increased well-being, with 50% saying it improved “quite a lot” or “a lot.” Mental and physical health saw significant gains, confirmed by smartwatch data.
Absenteeism dropped from 1.52 days to 0.38 days per month (p<0.001), though the reduction in sick days wasn’t statistically significant compared to the prior year.
| Employee Outcomes | Details |
|---|---|
| Sleep Increase | 38 minutes/week longer than control group |
| Physical Activity | +1,848 steps/week, +24.45 min/week |
| Stress Reduction | -89 min/week high-stress minutes |
| Well-being | 90% reported increased well-being, 50% significantly |
| Absenteeism | Dropped from 1.52 to 0.38 days/month (p<0.001) |
Recruitment and Retention Boost
The trial gave companies a competitive edge in hiring. “It’s a huge selling point,” said a HR manager.
“We’re seeing more applications, and our current staff are less likely to jump ship”.
But Not Everyone’s Convinced
Not all reactions were positive. Enzo Weber from the University of Regensburg criticized the trial’s design.
“The companies that joined were already on board with the idea,” he said. “This isn’t a random sample.”
He warned that compressing work into fewer days could harm social, communicative, and creative aspects, with effects possibly emerging later.
Steffen Kampeter, CEO of the Federation of German Industries, called the model “a significant wage increase” that’s unaffordable for many firms, especially those in global markets.
Some companies opted out due to these concerns. The trial’s small scale—45 out of Germany’s 3 million firms—also limits its representativeness.
Environmental impacts were another disappointment. No significant reduction in carbon footprint was observed, as some employees traveled during long weekends, offsetting energy savings.
Looking Ahead
The trial’s success has prompted 39% of companies to adopt the four-day week permanently, with 34% extending the pilot.
Yet, 20% will revert to five days, and 7% remain undecided. Carsten Meier from Intraprenör added, “Positive results aren’t automatically translated to all companies.”
A New Era of Work?
Germany’s experiment has opened Pandora’s box. For the 73% of companies continuing the four-day week, the benefits are clear: happier employees, stable productivity, and a stronger talent pipeline.
But critics argue it’s not a universal fix. As other countries watch closely, Germany’s trial could spark a global shift in how we view work—or it might remain a niche experiment for the few.
