4-Day Workweek: Countries and Companies Trying It
Trial results from the UK, Spain and the US — what 100-80-100 means and which roles actually get the Friday off.
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The 4-day week moved from manifesto to measured trials: the UK's large pilot, Spain's subsidised experiments, and hundreds of US companies testing the 100-80-100 model — 100% pay, 80% time, 100% output. Results surprised sceptics, but the fine print decides who actually gets Fridays off.
What the trials found
Revenue held or rose, sick days fell, and most participating firms kept the schedule. The mechanism is focus, not magic: fewer meetings, protected deep-work blocks, and ruthless prioritisation. Self-reported wellbeing gains were the most consistent result across countries.
The fine print
Knowledge roles with controllable workflows gain most; shift-based, coverage and frontline roles mostly get compressed hours or nothing. '4-day week' sometimes means 4×10 — same hours, fewer days. Read the actual schedule before celebrating.
How to find these jobs
Filter job boards by schedule, ask about pilots in interviews, and target the public lists of accredited 4-day employers. In negotiations, a trial Friday can be won individually even where no policy exists.
Do this week
- Learn the 100-80-100 definition before you cite it.
- Check accredited 4-day employer lists for your lane.
- Ask about schedule pilots, not just policy.
- Propose a trial in negotiations with a review date.
Quick answers
Is the 4-day week spreading?
Slowly and unevenly — concentrated in knowledge work and tight labour markets.
Does pay really stay full?
In the 100-80-100 model, yes. Compressed 4×10 schedules are a different deal — verify which is offered.
Which roles get it first?
Autonomous output-based roles. Coverage-based roles rarely do.
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