The 4 Day Week presents a radical, compelling case for a sustainable, profitable future in which we work less but are more productive, engaged and satisfied


The traditional five-day working week is outdated and no longer fit for purpose in a hyper-connected digital era. Meanwhile the gig economy threatens hard-won worker protections, from annual leave and sick pay to retirement savings. With the four-day week we can have the best of all worlds: optimal productivity, work-life balance and worker benefits.


Andrew Barnes successfully trialled and implemented the scheme in his own business, the New Zealand trust company Perpetual Guardian. He asked his staff to design a four-day week that would permit them to meet their existing productivity requirements on the same salary but with a 20% cut in work hours. The outcomes of this trial were stunning. People were happier and healthier, more engaged in their personal lives, and more focused and productive in the office. The story of this unprecedented experiment has made headlines around the world.


Using data from research gathered during the Perpetual Guardian trial, Barnes presents a productivity-focused, reduced-hour model of work that can:


- combat work-related stress and anxiety
- help limit carbon emissions caused by mass commuting
- redress the gender pay gap
- eliminate time-wasting activities at work
- all while increasing productivity, profitability and wellbeing.


The 4 Day Week is an essential guide for business leaders and employees alike that is applicable to nearly every industry. It is a cogent, innovative response to the fourth industrial revolution.