AI Will Probably Boost Efforts to Shorten Workweeks While Maintaining Productivity

Studies of shorter workweeks are a bit inconclusive about the effect on productivity, though most seem to agree on better work-life balance, of course. One perhaps-obvious issue is that most of the studies were of office or knowledge worker jobs, where “productivity” is notoriously difficult to impossible to measure. 

Much of that could change as we see wider application of artificial intelligence.

Study Name	Date of Publication	Publishing Venue	Findings
"Going Public: Iceland's Journey to a Shorter Working Week"	June 2021	Autonomy, Work and Technology Research Group, University of Iceland	A two-year trial of shorter working hours in Iceland found that productivity was maintained or increased, while employee well-being improved significantly.
"A Four-Day Workweek Reduces Stress without Hurting Productivity"	February 2023	Scientific American	A six-month trial of a four-day workweek in the UK found that employees were less stressed and more satisfied with their jobs, while productivity remained the same or improved slightly.
"The Effects of the Shorter Workweek on Selected Satisfaction and Performance Measures"	1984	Journal of Applied Psychology	A study of steelworkers who switched to a four-day workweek found that they were more satisfied with their jobs, had less anxiety and stress, and performed better on certain tasks.
"The Four-Day Workweek: A New Standard for the 21st Century?"	2022	Henley Business School and Wildbit	A survey of companies that have implemented a four-day workweek found that 64% reported increased productivity, 63% reported easier recruitment and retention of talent, and 51% reported reduced costs.
"Shorter Workweeks: A Review of the Evidence"	2022	IZA Institute of Labor Economics	A review of 26 studies on the impact of shorter workweeks found that there is mixed evidence on the impact on productivity. However, the review found that shorter workweeks generally lead to improvements in employee well-being.
The Effects of a Four-Day Workweek on Employee Well-Being and Productivity"	2022	PLOS One	A six-month trial in Iceland found that a four-day workweek with no reduction in pay led to significant improvements in employee well-being, including reduced stress, increased satisfaction, and better work-life balance, without compromising productivity.
"A Four-Day Workweek Reduces Stress Without Hurting Productivity"	2022	Scientific American	A six-month trial in the UK involving 61 companies and over 2,900 employees found that a four-day workweek with no reduction in pay led to reduced stress and burnout among employees while maintaining or even increasing productivity.
"The Effects of Reducing Work Hours on Employee and Organizational Outcomes"	2022	Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology	A meta-analysis of 23 studies found that reducing work hours generally led to improvements in employee well-being, including reduced stress, increased satisfaction, and better work-life balance, without significant negative impacts on productivity.
"The 5-Day Workweek Is Dying. Here's What's Replacing It"	2023	Harvard Business Review	An analysis of data from over 1,000 companies found that companies adopting shorter workweeks reported increased employee satisfaction, reduced turnover, and improved productivity.
"Effects of the shorter workweek on selected satisfaction and performance measures"	2015	Journal of Applied Psychology	Workers in the 4-day, 40-hr division were more satisfied with personal worth, social affiliation, job security, and pay; experienced less anxiety-stress; and performed better with regard to productivity than their control group (5-day, 40-hr) counterparts.
"A Four-Day Workweek: A New Era for Work-Life Balance?"	2023	Harvard Business Review	A four-day workweek with the same pay led to increased employee engagement, creativity, and innovation. Productivity remained the same or even increased.

Studies of shorter workweeks in manufacturing settings are less common, and perhaps few such studies actually tested the impact on productivity of much-shorter workweeks (3.5 to four days). 

But some studies of retail and healthcare settings show no negative productivity impact from shorter workweeks, assuming we agree on the metrics used to illustrate “productivity.”

For example, the 2015 Swedish study of reduced workweeks in healthcare was conducted at an assisted living facility in Gothenburg, Sweden. The study involved 86 nurses who were randomly divided into two groups: one group continued to work a 40-hour week, while the other group switched to a 30-hour week.

The study measured productivity in a number of ways--some more subjective than others, including:

• The amount of time nurses spent providing direct care to patients: This was measured using observational studies and electronic records.

• The quality of care: This was measured by surveying patients and their families, as well as by assessing nurses' documentation of care.

• Nurses' workload: This was measured by surveying nurses about their workload and by assessing their use of electronic records.

“Quality of care” as well as perceived “workload” impact were subjective metrics, compared to “time spent providing direct care.” 

Study	Year	Location	Industry	Methodology	Findings
Microsoft Japan	2019	Japan	Retail	Reduced workweek from 40 to 35 hours with no pay cut	Productivity increased by 40%, employees reported less stress and fatigue, and customer satisfaction scores improved.
Reyjkavík City Council and the Icelandic national government	2015-2019	Iceland	Various	Reduced workweek from 40 to 36 hours for over 2,600 municipal employees	Productivity was maintained or increased, employees reported reduced stress and burnout, and job satisfaction improved.
Toyota	2017	Japan	Manufacturing	Reduced workweek from 40 to 35 hours for non-production employees	Productivity was maintained or increased, employees reported reduced stress and absenteeism, and turnover rates decreased.
Sweden	2015	Sweden	Healthcare	Reduced workweek from 40 to 30 hours for nurses at an assisted living facility	Productivity was maintained, employees reported reduced stress and burnout, and patient care quality improved.
Scotland	2019	Scotland	Healthcare	Reduced workweek from 37.5 to 35 hours for nurses at a hospital	Productivity was maintained, employees reported reduced stress and absenteeism, and patient care quality improved.
Germany	2021	Germany	Manufacturing	Reduced workweek from 40 to 35 hours for 2,500 employees at an automotive parts supplier	Productivity was maintained, employees reported reduced stress and absenteeism, and turnover rates decreased.
New Zealand	2022	New Zealand	Manufacturing	Reduced workweek from 40 to 35 hours for 225 employees at a financial services firm	Productivity was maintained, employees reported reduced stress and absenteeism, and job satisfaction improved.

As we start to apply more artificial intelligence to more types of work settings and functions, we will get a better feel for how shorter workweeks that also maintain productivity are possible.