Countries with a 4 Day Work Week
Although no country has officially adopted a 4-day work week nationwide, many are leading the way through government-backed pilots, progressive legislation, and growing employer adoption.
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Click a highlighted country to learn about their 4-day work week initiatives
The 4-Day Work Week by Country, Compared
No country has legislated a nationwide four-day week yet, but dozens are moving toward shorter hours through government-backed pilots, right-to-request laws, and strong reduced-hours cultures. See how the leading countries compare on average working hours, statutory paid leave, and government support.
| Country | Avg hours/week | Statutory leave | Government support | 4-day-week policy | Open jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 38.7 hrs | 0 days | Limited Govt. Support | 32-hour workweek bills + state pilots | 11,035 |
| United Kingdom | 36.4 hrs | 28 days | Moderate Govt. Support | World's largest 4 day week pilot | 1,670 |
| Canada | 32.1 hrs | 10 days | Limited Govt. Support | Large 4 day week pilot | 1,206 |
| Ireland | 33.5 hrs | 20 days | Moderate Govt. Support | Large 4 day week pilot | 497 |
| Germany | 34.6 hrs | 20 days | Moderate Govt. Support | 4 day week campaigns | 475 |
| Australia | 32.4 hrs | 20 days | Moderate Govt. Support | 4 day work week pilot | 394 |
| Brazil | 39.5 hrs | 30 days | Moderate Govt. Support | Large 4 day week pilot | 369 |
| France | 30.1 hrs | 25 days | Moderate Govt. Support | 4 day week pilot + 35hr workweek | 300 |
| Spain | 32.4 hrs | 22 days | Strong Govt. Support | Government 4 day week pilot | 255 |
| Netherlands | 30.3 hrs | 20 days | Moderate Govt. Support | Short average workweek (29hrs) | 217 |
| Japan | 31.5 hrs | 10 days | Strong Govt. Support | Government 4 day week recommendation | 194 |
| Portugal | 36.8 hrs | 22 days | Strong Govt. Support | 4 day work week pilot | 157 |
| Poland | 39.7 hrs | 20 days | Strong Govt. Support | Government-Funded Pilot | 117 |
| Sweden | 31 hrs | 25 days | Limited Govt. Support | Large 4 day week pilot | 115 |
| Philippines | 41.2 hrs | 5 days | Strong Govt. Support | Govt Compressed Work Week | 110 |
| South Korea | 37.9 hrs | 15 days | Strong Govt. Support | Government 4.5-Day Push | 55 |
| Denmark | 33 hrs | 25 days | Limited Govt. Support | Short average workweek (33hrs) | 52 |
| Switzerland | 34.6 hrs | 20 days | Limited Govt. Support | Large 4 day week pilot + short workweek (35hrs) | 49 |
| Austria | 33.6 hrs | 25 days | Limited Govt. Support | Short average workweek (36hrs) | 40 |
| South Africa | 42.5 hrs | 21 days | Moderate Govt. Support | Large 4 day week pilot | 29 |
| Norway | 33.8 hrs | 25 days | Limited Govt. Support | Short average workweek (34hrs) | 25 |
| Chile | 37.5 hrs | 15 days | Strong Govt. Support | 40-Hour Work Law | 22 |
| New Zealand | 34.1 hrs | 20 days | Limited Govt. Support | Large 4 day week pilot | 21 |
| United Arab Emirates | 46.5 hrs | 30 days | Strong Govt. Support | Government 4.5 day work week | 21 |
| Belgium | 32.7 hrs | 20 days | Strong Govt. Support | Right to work 4 days (compressed) | 14 |
| Finland | 36.5 hrs | 25 days | Limited Govt. Support | Flexible Working Rights | 11 |
| Iceland | 35.5 hrs | 24 days | Strong Govt. Support | Public sector have a 4 day work week | 3 |
| Lithuania | 35.4 hrs | 20 days | Moderate Govt. Support | 32-Hour Week for Parents | 1 |
Europe
17 countries
Austria
No government 4-day week policy, but Austrian labour law permits compressed 4x10-hour schedules through employer-employee agreements.
Belgium
The Labour Deal Act (2022) gives employees the legal right to request a compressed 4-day week. Employers must justify any refusal in writing.
Denmark
No national 4-day week policy, though Denmark already averages a 33-hour work week. Several municipalities including Copenhagen have trialed compressed schedules.
Finland
Former PM Sanna Marin suggested a 4-day week or 6-hour workday in 2019, but no legislation was ever introduced. The current Orpo government has not pursued reduced working hours. Finland's 2020 Working Time Act instead focuses on flexible scheduling rights.
France
Has a statutory 35-hour work week since 2000. No specific 4-day week legislation, but a 50-company private-sector pilot ran in 2025 with government awareness.
Germany
The coalition government is reforming working time laws for flexibility, but Chancellor Merz has explicitly opposed a 4-day week. IG Metall secured a conditional 32-hour option.
Iceland
Government trials (2015–2019) covering 2,500+ workers led to collective bargaining agreements giving ~86% of the workforce access to reduced hours.
Ireland
No government-backed pilot or legislation. The government has commissioned research, and Forsa (largest public sector union) is campaigning for a trial.
Lithuania
In 2022, Lithuania passed a law granting public-sector employees with children under 3 the right to work 32 hours per week (4-day week) at full pay. Proposed by Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, the measure aims to improve work-life balance and address gender inequality in the workforce.
Netherlands
The Flexible Working Act gives employees the right to request reduced hours, and employers need a substantial reason to refuse. Workers already average 32 hours/week.
Norway
No government 4-day week policy. Norway already averages ~34 hours/week. A first private-sector pilot launched in late 2024 via 4 Day Week Global.
Poland
Poland's Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy launched the 'Reduced Working Hours' pilot programme in January 2026, with 90 employers and over 5,000 employees participating. The PLN 50 million programme tests 4-day weeks, shorter days, and extended leave, with results due by May 2027 to inform potential Labour Code amendments.
Portugal
Ran a government-backed 4-day week pilot (2023) across 41 companies with strong results — 95% rated it positively and only 4 returned to 5 days.
Spain
The government approved a bill to cut the work week from 40 to 37.5 hours, but Congress rejected it in Sept 2025 (178–170). A revised bill is being negotiated.
Sweden
No national government policy. Gothenburg's 2015 six-hour day trial showed productivity gains but ended over costs. A formal pilot launched in 2024 via PaceLab.
Switzerland
Federal government has not adopted a 4-day week. However, Basel-City approved a state-funded 3-year pilot in 2025 for SMEs, and a national research pilot is underway.
United Kingdom
No statutory four-day week, but the UK ran the world's largest pilot (2022) — 56 of 61 firms continued — and a 2025 follow-up pilot reported a 100% success rate. The Labour government backs stronger worker rights but dropped its earlier four-day-week pledge.
North America
2 countries
Canada
No federal or provincial 4-day week legislation. Ontario's Bill 55 stalled after first reading in 2022. All adoption is private-sector led.
United States
No federal four-day-week law. The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act (Sanders/Takano) would cut the overtime threshold from 40 to 32 hours but has not passed; New York and other states have introduced four-day-week pilot and incentive bills.
Asia
4 countries
Japan
Tokyo implemented a 4-day work week for ~160,000 government employees in April 2025. Multiple prefectures including Osaka, Chiba, and Kanagawa have followed.
Philippines
President Marcos signed Memorandum Circular 114 in March 2026, implementing a temporary 4-day compressed work week across government agencies to conserve energy. The order covers all national government agencies, GOCCs, and LGUs, with essential services exempt. Senate leaders have urged private sector adoption.
South Korea
The Reduced Working Hours Support Act was submitted to the National Assembly in late 2025, proposing subsidies for companies adopting shorter hours. President Lee Jae-myung has made the 4.5-day workweek a flagship policy, with government funding for pilot programmes across multiple provinces.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE adopted a 4.5-day federal work week in Jan 2022. Sharjah has a full 4-day week, and Dubai ran a successful 4-day summer program in 2025.
Oceania
2 countries
Australia
The ACT government announced a public sector 4-day week trial, and a federal Senate Committee recommended trialing it in the Australian Public Service.
New Zealand
Both major parties say no law change is needed. All activity is private-sector driven, notably Unilever NZ's successful pilot which became permanent.
South America
2 countries
Brazil
The Senate Justice Committee approved a constitutional amendment (Dec 2025) to reduce the work week from 44 to 36 hours by 2030, backed by the Lula government.
Chile
Chile passed the 40-Hour Work Law in April 2023, gradually reducing maximum weekly hours from 45 to 40 over five years. Phase 1 (44 hours) took effect April 2024, Phase 2 (42 hours) in April 2026. Over 421 companies have been certified under the voluntary Sello 40 Horas programme.
Africa
1 country
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which countries have a 4-day work week?
- No country has adopted a 4-day work week nationwide by law, but many are leading through government-backed pilots and progressive policy. Iceland, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, South Africa and Australia have all run major trials, and 4 Day Week Global has coordinated pilots across dozens of countries.
- Which country has the shortest working week?
- The Netherlands has one of the shortest average working weeks in the world (around 29-30 hours), followed by other Northern European countries such as Denmark, Norway and Germany, where shorter full-time hours and strong flexible-working cultures keep averages low.
- Is the 4-day work week required by law anywhere?
- Not as a full-pay national mandate. Belgium gives employees the right to request a compressed four-day week (the same hours across four days), and Iceland moved most public-sector staff to shorter hours after successful trials, but no country legally mandates a 32-hour week at full pay.
- Which countries have run 4-day work week trials?
- The UK ran the largest four-day-week trial in the world (61 companies, around 2,900 staff), with most keeping the four-day week afterwards. Iceland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the US and Canada have also run coordinated pilots, most reporting steady or higher output alongside significant wellbeing gains.
- Do 4-day work week jobs pay a full salary?
- In the leading pilots, including the UK and Iceland, staff work a four-day, roughly 32-hour week for 100% of their pay. The reduced-hours roles listed for each country on 4dayweek.io keep full pay unless a listing states otherwise.