World of HR: Portugal funds a four-day workweek trial for some employers

Working fewer days for the same compensation still feels like a pipe dream for most, but some companies across various countries are now trying out the four-day workweek.

Where in the world? One of the latest countries to dabble in the practice is Portugal, where the government announced a four-day workweek trial funded by the government, reported CNBC.

The experiment will take place over the next six months, with 39 employers trying it out. Workers will be paid their usual salary, but will only work 80% of their usual hours and be expected to deliver the usual amount of work. The Portuguese government is conducting the experiment in partnership with 4 Day Week Global, which advocates for companies and governments to try the model and spearheaded the successful 2022 experiment in the UK.

The Portuguese trial aims to “measure the impact of reduced work time on the physical and mental health of workers,” according to Birkbeck, University of London, which is involved in the study via coordinator and Birkbeck academic Pedro Gomes.

“Portugal is taking another step in the future of work. The four-day workweek pilot project assumes work-life balance as critical to attract workers and to improve productivity and innovation. The best companies are the ones who guarantee that they are providing space for talent and for fulfillment of workers,” Ana Mendes Godinho, Portugal’s minister of labor, said in a statement.

Satellite view. Portugal’s move comes hot on the heels of neighboring Spain, which is providing a financial incentive to companies with fewer than 250 employees, Reuters reported in April.

As popularity and demand grows for the practice elsewhere, some companies in the US are trying it out as well. Kickstarter, ThredUp, and Qwick all offer four-day workweeks stateside, which could stand as a desirable benefit to attract top talent.