How the 4-Day Work Week Went From Radical Idea to Global Movement

The 4-day work week is being tested in 30+ countries with consistent results: 20-30% productivity increase, 60%+ reduction in burnout, improved retention (zero attrition in most trials), and same or better revenue. UK's 2022 pilot (61 companies, 2,900 workers) was hailed as breakthrough — 92% continued after trial. Iceland's multi-year trial was so successful it became national policy. The mechanism: fewer hours force prioritization, reduce meeting bloat, and create more focused work. Criticism: not all industries can compress hours (manufacturing, healthcare shift work). The trend is moving from pilot to permanent policy.