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The Climate Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek
Article

The Climate Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek

Giada Ferraglioni and Sergio Colombo
BBC, 2023
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Could a boon for worker well-being also provide a boost for the planet? The results of the world’s largest-ever four-day workweek experiment say yes: Employees benefit, and employers don’t suffer when they downshift from the 40-hour workweek. Some firms even found additional positive side effects, journalists Giada Ferraglioni and Sergio Colombo report. When employees commute less, it leads to a drop in emissions. And when workers have more free time, they’re more willing and able to engage in sustainable behaviors.

Summary

A four-day workweek could help reduce global carbon emissions.

A large-scale study on the effects of a four-day workweek in the UK between June and December 2022 aimed to assess whether cutting weekly work hours harmed employee productivity. The results indicate that a shorter workweek did not lower productivity – and in some cases, productivity increased. In some cases, like that of environmental consultancy Tyler Grange, the shift also reduced commuting time.

Broader data from the UK study backs Tyler Grange’s findings: Participants who tracked their employees’ commutes noted a 10% decrease in drive time over the pilot period. A US-based version of the study saw a 27% decrease. This decline, economist and sociologist...

About the Authors

Giada Ferraglioni is a freelance journalist focusing on foreign, environmental and social policy. Sergio Colombo is a global affairs journalist and editor.

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