Four-Day workweek takes hold in Germany, renewing debate in Spain

Germany’s experiment with a four-day workweek has yielded results that could influence ongoing labour debates in Spain, as a significant majority of participating companies in the trial have expressed a desire to maintain reduced working days instead of returning to the traditional five-day schedule. The pilot project involved dozens of organisations and provides one of the most detailed real-world evaluations of shorter standard work weeks in a major European economy. 

Pilot Project Design

The trial, which began in late 2023 and concluded after roughly twelve months, engaged 45 organisations and approximately 900 employees from a diverse selection of sectors across Germany. The initiative was designed and monitored by researchers from the University of Münster, in collaboration with the consultancy Intraprenör and the international advocacy group 4 Day Week Global. 

Under the framework, companies implemented a modified schedule in which employees worked about 80 % of the previous hours, typically reducing weekly work by one day, while retaining 100 % of their salary. The core objective was to determine whether it was possible to sustain performance and productivity while shortening weekly work time, known in academic and policy circles as the 100-80-100 model. 

Majority of Firms Favor Continued Reduced Hours

By the end of the trials, a clear trend has emerged. Roughly 73 % of the participating companies announced they would continue with the four-day structure rather than revert to a five-day workweek. A smaller share indicated they may adjust the arrangement slightly, but overall most showed a preference for maintaining the reduced work schedule. Only a minority stated they planned to return to the traditional five-day model, and a few remained undecided. 

These findings align with earlier international pilot projects, such as those in the United Kingdom and Portugal, where a majority of firms involved chose to maintain reduced working days after evaluations. Independent reporting also confirms that the German trial’s results reflect a strong inclination among employers to retain flexible work arrangements when performance benchmarks are met. 

Effects on Workers and Businesses

According to preliminary analyses emerging from the trial, employees reported improved well-being, reduced stress levels, and better work-life balance, outcomes that proponents of shorter workweeks have long cited as potential benefits. Some participating companies also reported lighter meeting schedules and greater operational efficiencies as part of their internal restructuring to accommodate the reduced hours. 

From the business perspective, sustaining productivity was a central focus. Although productivity levels did not uniformly increase, many firms succeeded in maintaining similar output standards despite fewer working days. Some companies accelerated process optimisations and investments in digital tools that helped streamline operations under the new schedule. 

The Debate in Spain

The German experience comes at a moment when Spain continues debating modifications to its own working time policies, including proposals to reduce standard weekly hours from five days and 40 hours. While Spain has seen discussions over a 37.5-hour workweek and proposals for greater flexibility, it has not established a widespread four-day workweek policy on a national level. 

Spanish policymakers have occasionally referenced international experiments, and public discourse has engaged with whether similar models could benefit Spanish workers and companies. In Germany’s case, the trial’s results are being cited by some analysts and commentators as evidence that a shorter workweek contains less risk to productivity than critics had anticipated. However, experts also caution that pilot results cannot be uniformly extrapolated across different economic contexts given the voluntary, self-selected nature of companies participating in such experiments. 

Critiques and Methodological Considerations

Despite positive indicators, not all stakeholders view the German trial as definitive proof of the merits of reduced working weeks. Some economists highlight methodological limitations, noting that participating companies voluntarily joined the pilot and may not represent the broader economy. Critics argue that firms already inclined toward flexible work arrangements or with favourable financial positions were more likely to take part, which could skew results. 

Moreover, questions remain about how shorter workweeks would interact with challenges currently facing labour markets, such as skills shortages and demographic pressures. These structural factors influence labour costs, productivity measurements, and workforce expectations in ways that vary significantly between countries. 

Implications for Future Policy

The German pilot’s results have revived interest in the broader policy discussion about balancing work time, compensation, and quality of life. Advocates contend that if key performance metrics can be maintained under a shortened schedule, more organisations may choose to adopt flexible work practices. Detractors, meanwhile, insist that labour policy should be carefully tailored to economic realities and not adopted wholesale based on isolated pilots.

For Spain, Germany’s experience adds an important data point to ongoing debates, illustrating both the opportunities and complexities of rethinking traditional workweek structures.