📅 The Four-Day Week
In the app, the story is read aloud and you can write or speak your answers — the site corrects your mistakes.
Listen to the story and answer the questions →A few years ago, a software company in our town introduced a four-day working week. Employees kept the same salary, but they worked thirty-two hours instead of forty.
The results surprised even the managers. Productivity didn't fall; in fact, it rose slightly. Fewer people called in sick, and staff said they felt less stressed and more motivated. Moreover, the company found it much easier to attract talented new employees.
Not everyone was convinced, however. Some customers complained that they couldn't reach anyone on Fridays, and a few employees admitted that they found the longer working days exhausting. Critics also point out that such a model would be difficult to introduce in hospitals, schools or shops.
Nevertheless, the experiment has sparked a lively debate. Several other companies in the region are now considering following their example.
Key words
Questions about the story
- How many hours did employees work after the change?
- What happened to productivity?
- What did some customers complain about?
- Where would the model be difficult to introduce?