World of HR: South Africa tries a four-day workweek

Everybody’s working for the weekend. But for a lucky few, the weekend is longer.

South Africa has become the latest nation to release the results of its four-day workweek trial. While it was deemed a success, the results were somewhat unexpected.

Where in the world? Around 30 companies participated in South Africa’s six-month, four-day workweek trial that ended in August, Bloomberg reported. In the continent’s first such trial, South Africa worked with 4 Day Week Global, the organization that partnered with the UK on its successful pilot program.

While most countries that have run similar trials have given workers Fridays off, South Africa allowed its workers to choose. This approach was necessary because of the country's unreliable power grid and limited public transportation, as well as the fact that many participants have multiple jobs. Workers were paid their full salary, as long as they produced the same amount of work during the time frame. Fewer than a quarter of the eligible workers chose to take Fridays off.

The program was “universally beneficial,” according to a press release from 4 Day Week Global, and 92% of participating companies said they’ll continue the four-day schedule. Organizations reported that employees were productive and performed well during the trial, and that it helped attract talent.

“Our employees are more rested, productivity has increased, and our customers have not experienced any difference in our quality of service,” Annerike Meiring, HR officer at Elnatan, an IT company that participated in the trial, said. “The pilot taught us how to be more agile and efficient, and we are using those learnings to rethink and optimize for the future."

Satellite view. Portugal and Spain are in the midst of their own four-day workweek pilot programs. In the US, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Pennsylvania are considering a trial that would give businesses a tax credit for participating, according to Axios.

They might be onto something: Research indicates that workers are willing to work longer hours and change jobs or industries to work fewer days a week.

No matter where and when you work, everybody’s looking forward to the weekend (weekend).