The five-day week is a standard for most of the world, but Microsoft Japan trialed a four-day week as part of the Work-Life Choice Challenge Summer 2019, giving all of the 2,300 workers five Fridays off in a row without reducing pay.
This turns out to have had a good effect, as workers were not only happier but also dramatically more productive in the month of August, when the project took place. Productivity rose by a reported 40%, and family vacations for employees were also subsidised by up to ¥100,000 (which equates to around $920 USD).
"Work a short time, rest well and learn a lot," Microsoft Japan president and CEO Takuya Hirano said in a statement to Microsoft Japan's website (as reported by The Guardian). "I want employees to think about and experience how they can achieve the same results with 20% less working time."
Employees also took 25% less time off, electricity use was down 23% in the office, and 59% fewer pages were printed.
Despite 92% of workers said they appreciated having a shorter week, Microsoft has said this is just a pilot project, and there are no guarantees of its permanence or whether it will start happening elsewhere.
"In the spirit of a growth mindset, we are always looking for new ways to innovate and leverage our own technology to improve the experience for our employees around the globe," a Microsoft spokesman said.
Would you like a four-day week?