Employees in the United Kingdom may receive the right to a four-day work week as part of the government's workers' rights reforms later this year.

The government has stated that companies would not be forced to grant workers' requests for such flexible working arrangements, nor will employees be required to transition to a four-day workweek. However, industry groups have cautioned about prospective Labour plans for "compressed hours," while the Conservatives have stated such a move would lead growth to "suffer" and leave businesses "petrified."

Belgium

In 2022, Belgium became the first European country to allow its citizens the legal right to seek a four-day work week without losing pay.

Iceland

Iceland was one of the earliest promoters of a four-day work week, which is now relatively commonplace across the country following a series of large-scale, multi-year trials in the public sector that started nearly a decade ago.

Lithuania

Lithuania, like Belgium, approved legislation allowing for a four-day working week in 2022. Lithuania's regulation only applies to new parents, addressing the gender pay disparity that develops as women have children.Lithuania Lithuania, like Belgium, approved legislation allowing for a four-day working week in 2022. One notable difference is that Lithuania's program only applies to new parents, addressing the gender pay gap that develops when women have children.

France

While France does not legally impose the option of a four-day work week, the country has had a 35-hour work week in place since 2000. That is lower than in many other countries, notably Belgium, and facilitates the transition to a four-day workweek, which numerous French enterprises have already undertaken.

Denmark

There is no national policy in place for a four-day workweek in Denmark, however public sector employees in the municipality of Odsherred converted to a Monday to Thursday timetable in 2019, where they are expected to work greater hours on those four days in exchange for an extended weekend. Denmark, like the Netherlands and Norway, has one of the shortest average workweeks in the world.

Japan

In 2021, the Japanese government advised that corporations let their employees to work four days each week instead of five. While this has not yet been adopted statewide, numerous towns around the country allegedly began "testing the waters" by introducing the option of a four-day work week earlier this year.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates was the first country in the world to formally adopt a work week shorter than the conventional five days. The UAE government declared in 2021.

Which other countries are exploring a four-day workweek?

Aside from the United Kingdom, where some trials have already taken place at various companies and some employers have committed to the switch, several other countries around the world are conducting or have completed pilot schemes for four-day working weeks, indicating that the move may soon become more widespread. Australia and New Zealand are among those that have seen such trials, with some companies in the two countries making the switch permanent. Australia also recently enacted a law granting workers the "right to disconnect" - similar to the Labour Party's "right to switch off" proposal.