Overview
4 Day Work Week in Ireland
Although Ireland hasn’t officially adopted a 4 day work week, many companies in the country participated in a 6 month, 4 day work week pilot program between June and December of 2022. The pilot was sponsored by 4 Day Week Global, a group campaigning to bring the 4 day work week to countries across the world.
17 Irish companies participated in the trial program, which was monitored by researchers from Boston University and University College Dublin. The goal of the program was to determine whether the 4 day work week can increase employee wellness and productivity while reducing carbon emissions.
Here are the results from the pilot:
Business Performance and Productivity
- The trial companies saw an ~8% increase in revenue.
- Compared to the same timeframe last year, revenue increased by 37.55%.
- There was a positive trend in the hiring rate, and a slight reduction in absenteeism and resignations.
Balance Between Work and Personal Life
- Employees could dedicate more time to personal interests and voluntary activities.
- There was a drop in the need for additional time for most tasks and activities.
- Extra free time was primarily distributed amongst recreational activities, domestic duties/care work, and self-care.
Physical and Mental Health
- A decline in stress levels and burnout was reported by employees after the trial.
- Improvement in physical and mental health was self-reported.
- An increase in physical exercise and a decrease in fatigue were noted.
Environmental Impact and Commuting
- There was a drop in the percentage of employees commuting via car from 56.5% before the trial to 52.5% afterwards.
- The weekly commute duration saw a reduction of nearly an hour.
- Small but significant increases were observed in home recycling activities, choosing to walk or cycle instead of driving, and buying environmentally-friendly products.
Value of Current Job
- At the conclusion of the trial, 70% of respondents claimed they would need a salary increment of 10-50% to switch back to a five-day work routine.
- 13% mentioned they would need a salary increment of more than 50%.
- Another 13% of respondents claimed they wouldn't revert to a five-day schedule irrespective of the pay rise.
Household Labor and Gender Equality
- The trial did not significantly impact the division of labor at home.
- A slight increase in men's contribution to childcare was observed.
- Further studies are needed to understand changes in societal norms over time.
Cost of Childcare
- The trial observed a decrease in expenses related to childcare.
