Less work hours improve productivity, pilot project results show

Improved productivity, positive impacts on recruitment, decreased resignations and decreases in absenteeism are some of the benefits of a 4-day week, research results of the first ever pilot in a developing country – and the first in Africa – have shown.

The recently released results show huge benefits for both employees and employers. Forward-thinking businesses and leaders in Namibia now have an opportunity to sign up for a 4 Day Week pilot planned for March 2024 in South Africa.

Twenty-six companies have concluded a six-month trial which kicked off in March 2023. It was run by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with 4 Day Week South Africa NPC and researchers at both Boston College and Stellenbosch Business School.

Karen Lowe, 4 Day Week South Africa Global Head of Partnerships, says the research findings show that the pilot was a huge success. “Companies rated their experience an impressive 8 out of 10, with 92% definitely intending to either continue or considering to continue the 4 day week.”

She says companies reported a range of business benefits from revenue increases, to improved productivity, positive impacts on recruitment, decreased resignations and decreases in absenteeism; while employees value their time off so much that 51% say they would need a 21 to 50% pay increase to revert to a 5 day week at their next job. Moreover, 13% report that no amount of money would induce them to return to the 5-day formula.

“Employees noted improvements in their overall well-being including a reduction in stress, burnout, fatigue, poor sleep and anxiety, a positive boost in mental health and work-family balance, and an increase in exercise frequency. Self-rated productivity emerged as the most significant change with nearly half of employees reporting an increase in productivity during the trial,” she says.

Pilot participants underwent significant review in the way they operated, implementing more structured focus periods throughout the day, reducing meeting duration and frequency, increasing the use of technology and automation, and improving communication, delegation, and employee autonomy.

Companies were innovative in their approach to work-time reduction, working with employees to agree on the day or times that best suited their individual needs while ensuring alignment with business requirements. Although still short of the target of 8 hours a week, 64% of participants reported a reduction in work time, and 57% reported a decrease in the number of days worked each week.

Unique in the South African context are the benefits of more time off in a country where intergenerational caring responsibilities are high, administrative responsibilities such as renewing driving licenses demand in-person attendance, poor public transport and traffic congestion present daily challenges, and a large number of people engage in side hustles and embryonic entrepreneurial pursuits.

The South African findings differ in some regards from those of pilots in the developed world. No change was observed in time spent by participants volunteering to help the environment. There was little change in domestic and international travels and little to no change in childcare costs.

On the significance of the trial for South Africa, local research lead Professor Mark Smith of Stellenbosch Business School remarked: “The 4 day week presents the rare combination of benefits for both employees and employers by enhancing wellbeing, productivity, and work organisation. It is exciting to see South African results showing similar benefits to those we observe around the world while also having unique aspects that leave us enthusiastic about its potential for future participants and the wider economy.”

Kealeboga Kaelo, CEO of Precision Vehicle and Asset Tracking shared: “When we signed up for the six months pilot, we believed that a 4 day week was the future of work worth exploring. We are happy to announce that post the pilot, this has become our new normal, our current way of work. We have adopted the 4 day week on a permanent basis. Our staff unanimously agreed that the 4 day week has significantly benefited them at individual levels since they have an extra day to attend to personal affairs. Some employees mentioned that being given an extra day to rest during the week helped them be more productive the following day.”