Excerpts
In 2019, Iceland made headlines by becoming one of the first countries in the world to adopt the four-day working week, not through a general law, but through agreements allowing workers to negotiate shorter weeks or reduced hours. Five years on, the results are indisputable.
Initial fears finally allayed
The Icelandic experiment began in 2015 with a pilot phase involving around 2,500 employees, or just over 1% of the country’s working population. Following the resounding success of this initiative, with 86% of the employees involved expressing their support, the project was formalised in 2019. Today, almost 90% of Icelandic workers benefit from a reduced working week of 36 hours, compared with 40 hours previously, with no loss of pay.
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Icelandic reports show that productivity has remained stable, and even increased in some sectors. One of the keys to this success lies in improving the mental health of workers, a crucial aspect highlighted by Generation Z. The reduction in stress, combined with a better work-life balance, has had a significant positive impact on employee well-being.
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Iceland’s experience shows that the four-day week is not only viable, but can also bring significant benefits for both workers and society as a whole. By putting the well-being of individuals at the heart of its priorities, Iceland has created a more humane and sustainable working model, which could well inspire other countries to follow its example. By championing this cause, Generation Z has helped to pave the way for a future where work adapts to people’s needs, rather than the other way round. Iceland’s success proves that their predictions were far from utopian, and that a profound change in our relationship with work is not only possible, but desirable.