South Africa’s 4-Day Work Week Pilot: A Trailblazing Success for Work-Life Balance

South Africa recently concluded a pioneering experiment in work-life dynamics, being the first African nation to test a four-day workweek. 

This six-month pilot was orchestrated by 4 Day Week Global, alongside local partners and included academic scrutiny from institutions like Boston College and Stellenbosch Business School. The program sought to assess the impact of shortening the conventional workweek on various aspects of professional life, according to 4 Day Week Global. 

The outcomes have been overwhelmingly positive, with substantial benefits observed for both companies and employees. A majority of businesses involved in the trial have decided to continue with the reduced workweek after witnessing improvements in job satisfaction, productivity, and well-being. Companies reported an uptick in performance metrics, including a reduction in staff turnover by 11% and absenteeism by 9%, while revenues saw a weighted average increase of 10.5%.

From the employee perspective, the response was equally favorable, with 90% of workers expressing a desire to maintain the four-day schedule. The value they placed on the shortened week was evident, as over half indicated they would require a 21-50% salary increase to consider returning to a five-day work schedule, and a significant fraction stated that no monetary incentive could persuade them to revert. 

This initiative’s success points to a potentially transformative shift in the future of work, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and work-life balance.

The results echo 4 Day Week Global’s U.K. study which showed an overwhelming majority of businesses (92%) that took part in the study said they intend to keep their four-day workweek.