What are the results of Germany’s four day work week trial?

For six months, 45 organisations in Germany agreed to trial a four-day working week this year, as part of a study by Berlin-based management consultancy Intraprenör and researchers from Münster University.

At the heart of the research was the question: how might working one day (or up to eight hours) less per week impact employee behaviour and productivity? 

The study involved a number of survey-based questionnaires and interviews, and also looked at physiological data – such as cortisol levels in hair samples – to measure stress levels among employees.

What were the results?

In Intraprenör’s report on the study, it concludes that the German pilot adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the four day working week. 

Overall, employees self-reported increases in productivity while revenue and profit levels at the organisational level remained stable throughout the trial period.

The report’s authors note that self-reported productivity measures should be interpreted with caution, but that these reports were also backed up by employee assessments provided by leaders and top management. Employees also provided “detailed qualitative evidence” as to how they managed the same productivity levels in less time. 

The report also notes that for companies, transitioning to a four day week comes with several challenges.

Two large organisations initially included in the project dropped out early citing economic reasons not related to the study.

READ ALSO: How Germany is trialling the four day working week 

Many of the participating organisations decided not to implement a four day working week, but reduced required working hours across the five day week instead.

A total of 34 percent of participating organisations decided to extend their pilot programmes, whereas 39 percent ended the trial but reported that they would stick with a reduced working week.

On the other hand, 20 percent of the companies included in the trial have changed back to a five-day and 40 hours per week schedule following the conclusion of the six month study.

How does a four day week affect employees?

From an employee’s perspective, the four day working week trial suggests a number of positive impacts.

Over 90 percent of employees reported an increase to their overall well-being. Interestingly, however, the study did not find strong evidence for a positive change in overall job satisfaction.

Both mentally and physically, employees perceived that their health improved after switching to a four day working week.

Participants in the study wore smart watches, which gave researchers access to data about their sleeping and exercise habits, and how these changed. On average employees walked more steps, exercised more often, and got more sleep after converting to a four day working week. These factors would all be expected to result in better health outcomes overtime.

Additionally, employees reported having more time for self-care, hobbies and social contact.

The study also looked at so-called “stress minutes”, meaning minutes people spent under stress each day which was determined by heart rate data. On average, workers experienced about 13 less stress minutes each day on the reduced working schedule.

Eighty-three percent of employees involved in the study expressed a desire to continue with the four day working week. 

How does a four day work week affect employers?

The study found evidence for a couple arguments for implementing a four day working week from the employer’s perspective.

Perhaps due to the positive health effects mentioned above, participants reported that they called in sick to work less frequently after switching to the four day working week.

Also, companies involved in the study expanded their workforces, which seems to suggest that the schedule change may be associated with improved recruitment rates. However, the study’s authors also note that some companies intentionally hired more workers to offset the reduced working hours. Among top-management employees, around half reported the trial  “had improved their ability to attract skilled workers”.

Among the challenges cited by organisations were “increased organisational demands and administrative complexity” as well as “reduced flexibility in response to unpredictable events… less staff availability…and increased coordination needs”.

A few of the organisations did say that the working time change resulted in unfinished tasks and longer project timelines.

Study leader and labour researcher Julia Backmann told Tagesschau that a reduced work schedule is not a remedy for everything.

"The data shows that many (companies) have succeeded. But of course, this advantage would be lost if every company were to offer the four-day week now," she said.