
A man lying on the crystal ice on the Diamond beach at the sunset in Iceland. Image for illustrative purpose only. Credit: Nazar Rybak/Getty Images
Society IcelandThree Day Weekend? Here, It’s a Successful Yes!
Six years post-implementation, Iceland’s four-day workweek has benefitted society positively.
“The reduction in work hours has been a huge success in Iceland and has changed the life of my family. For 90 percent of Icelanders, the 36-hour workweek means less stress, more job satisfaction, and more time to enjoy life,” says María Hjálmtýsdóttir, an activist and teacher.
The experiment began in 2015 with 2,500 participants and eventually became an official national program in 2019. Today, 90 per cent of workers in Iceland work 36 hours per week rather than 40 with no loss in pay. Various studies following implementation report that productivity has either remained stable or increased and that individual workers report less stress and better mental health. Some other countries are considering adopting the four-day workweek and have pilot projects underway – including Germany, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With studies noting significant benefits across the board, the Icelandic experiment is a prime example of a more sustainable and humane work model that may soon be replicated in nations across the world.