Japan begins 4-day workweek regime: Other countries that follow it for increased productivity and happiness

The idea of a permanent three-day weekend has long been a dream for workers around the world and now, it’s slowly becoming a reality. As work culture continues to change over time, especially post-pandemic, the global push for a four-day work week has serious consideration. More and more countries, companies, and employees are starting to rethink what productivity and a healthy work-life balance should look like.

This novel 4-day workweek follows a “100-80-100” model. It means workers get 100% of their pay, 80% of the time, while still getting their work done at 100% efficiency. It is being led by a group called ‘4 Day Week Global’, which started off as a major campaign in Germany in late 2023, and has already seen success in places like Spain, Portugal, and the UK.


Even some of the happiest countries in the world like Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands are leading this change. The movement doesn’t just reduce burnout but also improves mental health, increases job satisfaction, and in many cases, even boosts output. With growing evidence pointing to the benefits, the four-day workweek could very Completely change and revamp the future of work. Here are a few countries that have adopted the new 4-day work week regime.

In response to Japan’s increasing demographic crisis, Tokyo has introduced a four-day workweek for government employees to improve work-life balance and address the country’s declining birth rate, with effect from April 2025. Apart from this, a new “childcare partial leave” policy also allows working parents to reduce their workday by two hours, making it easier to manage childcare.

Governor Yuriko Koike emphasized the importance of flexible workstyles so women aren’t forced to choose between careers and family. Japan is struggling to sustain its population with a national fertility rate of just 1.2 and an even lower 0.99 in Tokyo. One major factor contributing to the imbalance in unpaid domestic work, is that Japanese women handle five times more household tasks than men. The four-day week could help by encouraging men to share more responsibilities at home. While promising, experts like Julia Hobsbawm stress that such policies aren’t one-size-fits-all and must be tailored to different work environments and cultural norms.

Belgium became the first European country to pass a four-day work week into law in 2022 as part of its post-COVID Labor Deal. Employees can now compress their 40-hour week into four days without a pay cut. The reform also introduced a "right to disconnect," allowing workers at larger companies to ignore work messages after hours. This legal framework is designed to reduce burnout and promote mental health by ensuring employees truly get time to rest and recharge.Another notable aspect is that both employers and employees must agree on the four-day arrangement—it isn’t automatic. The schedule is reviewed every six months, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of both parties and can be adjusted if necessary.

Germany’s 2023-24 trial of the four-day week involved 41 companies and showed encouraging results. About 73% of them plan to continue with the new structure. Germany has always been a country valuing productivity and efficiency, and it has one of the world’s shortest average work weeks at 34 hours. The country’s positive experience suggests that fewer hours don’t mean less work, instead it’s just smarter, more focused efforts that leave employees happier and more engaged. Companies observed no significant decline in productivity, absenteeism, or financial performance, indicating that reduced working hours did not adversely affect business operations

Iceland set the bar early with trials between 2015 and 2019 that proved fewer hours could actually lead to better productivity. Public sector employees reduced their work hours from 40 to 35-36 per week without losing pay. By 2022, over half the workforce had moved to shorter schedules. Most importantly, the worker well-being improved significantly, and the country’s economy didn’t suffer. On the contrary, it maintained a healthy GDP growth of 4.1%, showing that happier workers can propel stronger economies.

While Denmark hasn’t formally rolled out a four-day week, its average work week is already just 37 hours. The country places high value on 'hygge', a lifestyle of comfort and balance, which is seen in its workplace culture. Danish workers also enjoy up to five weeks of concurrent paid holidays, which comes under a 2020 law. This increases a strong sense of work-life harmony, proving that reduced hours and flexible time off can contribute greatly to national happiness and productivity.

Japan’s move to adopt a 4-day workweek reflects a growing global trend focused on work-life balance, productivity, and mental well-being. While it's still early to judge the long-term impact, the change signals a major shift in how countries are rethinking traditional work models to better suit the needs of modern life.