The 4-day week: making work healthier and more sustainable.

Dr Orla Kelly, UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.

Dr Kelly led the Irish component of the first coordinated international trial of work time reduction. The trial implementation is being led by 4 Day Week Global, and Boston College is coordinating the research with academic partners, including UCD. So far, 3500 employees across 150 organisations have participated in the 6-month, company-led trials, including 188 employees from 12 firms in Ireland.

Employees on the trial have seen gains in physical and mental health, better sleep and higher rates of life satisfaction. These results have been widely covered by national and international media, and the team has briefed politicians in the US, UK and Ireland – including the Taoiseach, Minister for Public Expenditure and an Oireachtas Committee – helping direct society toward a more sustainable and healthy work culture.