"Several trials have found that a shorter workweek can boost worker productivity and reduce burnout. Advocates argue it could also have benefits for the environment."

"Working five days a week is standard practice in the Western world, but things weren't always that way.  

During the Industrial Revolution, workers often toiled away in factories for over 70 hours a week, until the rise of labor unions and concerns about exploitation led to demands for a cap on hours.

In 1926, Henry Ford became one of the first employers to implement a five-day, 40-hour workweek in his car factories. He believed his workers would be just as productive in a shorter amount of time if they had two days off. His experiment was a success: productivity went up, other companies followed suit — and the five-day week stuck.

But 100 years on, a campaign to shorten the week further — to four days — is gaining momentum."

Natalie Muller and Neil King report for DW June 9, 2023. [2]