This House would mandate a four-day work week.

econ

The largest pilot to date, in the UK, found productivity neutral and worker satisfaction sharply higher. Critics point out that pilots self-select for firms whose work suits the schedule. The policy question is whether mandate makes sense at all.

Background

The 2022 UK pilot ran for six months across 61 firms with 2,900 workers. 56 of the 61 firms made the change permanent. Revenue rose 1.4% on average; sick days fell by two-thirds. Iceland's public-sector trial (2015-2019) showed similar results across 2,500 workers. Spain and Portugal have launched government-subsidized national pilots. Belgium passed a "right to request" 4-day week in 2022 (working the same hours in compressed days), distinct from a true 4-day mandate.

Government opens with

Productivity is now measured per hour, not per week; the workweek lags the data.

Opposition responds with

A mandate flattens differences across industries where the four-day week is not feasible.