ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Research → Technology

Tech giant experiments with 4-day work week: productivity increased by 40%

Microsoft Japan gave its employees the Friday off and saw a boost in productivity as a result.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
November 7, 2019
in Home science, News, Technology
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

For five Fridays, Microsoft Japan closed its doors, and employees enjoyed a paid vacation day. The result? Not only did the company save money, but overall employee productivity increased by 40%.

“I want employees to think about and experience how they can achieve the same results with 20 percent less working time,” explained CEO Takuya Hirano in a post on Microsoft Japan’s website. 

The idea of implementing a four-day workweek is not new, and it seems to become more and more prevalent. The reasoning behind it is pretty straightforward: give people more time with their families and hobbies and you’ll get more from them in the other four days. The idea has been around for almost a century, but it seems to be picking more traction in recent years.

There’s also another way of looking at a 32-hour workweek, and why it is justified: the average productivity of workers has increased (as has the overall level of employee education). Simply put, people produce more work in less time, so they deserve to get more rest.

However, while anecdotal or small-scale evidence abounds, the four-day workweek remains more of an uncertain concept. But, at least for Microsoft Japan, it seems to be a workable concept.

The pilot test, called Work-Life Choice Challenge Summer 2019, took place during August. In order to cope with the off-Fridays, the company management also did a number of other tweaks: it slashed many meetings from 60 to 30 minutes, limited meetings to 5 people, and encouraged people to communicate in group chats rather than email. According to the company, employee productivity grew by almost 40%.

The findings echoed another recent survey from 2018, where Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand trust management company, announced a 20% gain in employee productivity and a 45% increase in employee work-life balance after switching to a four-day work-week. Microsoft announced that it will start another trial, but Perpetual Guardian already made the policy permanent.

Sure enough, the findings are encouraging. If productivity can be grown at the same time as giving employees more free time — everyone wins. But these are still small trials, with several limitations.

RelatedPosts

In 2019, Iceland started experimenting with a shorter workweek. It’s been a resounding success

It’s perhaps no coincidence that the survey was carried out in Japan — a country known for having some of the longest working hours in the world, yet despite this, having surprisingly low productivity. Several Japanese companies have been reportedly analyzing the four-day workweek in an attempt to rebalance this problem.

Additionally, it’s not exactly clear how work productivity was calculated, and how these trends might apply to different working scenarios. The Japan trials have offered exciting prospects, but it’s still just a small project in the grand scheme of things.

Nevertheless, it’s something worth thinking about, and testing. It’s something bosses all around the world should ponder.

Tags: workweek

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Economics

In 2019, Iceland started experimenting with a shorter workweek. It’s been a resounding success

byMihai Andrei
5 days ago

Recent news

This Superbug Learned How to Feed on Plastic from Hospitals

May 20, 2025

China’s Tiangong space station has some bacteria that are unknown to science

May 20, 2025

Hidden Communication Devices Found in Chinese-Made Inverters Could Put U.S. Electrical Grid at Risk

May 20, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.