Iceland tests four-day workweek with resounding success

It developed with greater intensity in the town hall of the capital, ReykjavIk, and involved 2,500 people (over 1% of the country’s economically active population), who were reduced to 35 or 36 hours – no reduction in salary. In this direction, Association for Sustainability and Democracy The Icelandic (Alda) opened the discussion on the implementation of the new regime in UK.

Gudmundur D. Haraldsson, a researcher at Alda, said: “The reduction in the Icelandic week tells us that not only is it possible to work less in these times, but so is gradual change.” And added that this “This shows that the public sector is ready to be a pioneer in reducing work weeks and that other governments can learn from it.”

Regarding the positive effects, an important percentage of males increased their participation in household chores. Productivity and the level of service delivery have remained the same or improved in most workplaces, as has state-reported income.

Once the experiment is over, the 86% of the population works fewer hours or can apply for the new work model. In fact, unions across the country are negotiating reduced hours for the same pay and will soon have the right to do so.

Other similar experiments are underway in other parts of the world such as New Zealand, Spain and Japan. In the latter, companies were recommended to apply the same reduction to four days to overcome the pandemic crisis, reduce the suicide rate and improve the quality of life of residents.