This major city has ditched the five-day work week — employee happiness increases
Within a matter of days, employees in Dubai's public sector will be enjoying three-day weekends and reduced working hours as part of the city's 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative.
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Kicking off on July 1 and running until September 12, the reduced summer schedule introduced by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) aims to allow workers more flexibility and access to greater work-life balance.
3 Employees in Dubai's public sector will be enjoying three-day weekends and reduced working hours as part of the city's 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative.
Naypong Studio – stock.adobe.com
As part of the scheme, public sector employees will be divided and put onto two separate flexible working schedules.
Those in group one will work Monday to Thursday for 8 hours a day and have Fridays off.
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Those in group two will also work Monday to Thursday but only for 7 hours a day and will work 4.5 hour days on Fridays.
The government decided to roll out the change to all employees following a successful pilot phase last year which was found to have improved overall employee satisfaction and happiness, along with increased productivity.
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director-General of DGHR, said the policy reflected the government's overall vision to create a modern workforce that prioritizes work-life balance.
'This isn't just a shift in working hours — it's a reflection of the government's evolving mindset. We are prioritizing employee wellbeing alongside institutional efficiency,' he said.
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'This initiative demonstrates our firm commitment to enhancing the government work environment, making it more adaptable and responsive to the needs of employees and the community.'
3 The government decided to roll out the change to all employees following a successful pilot phase last year.
Dan Dalton/KOTO – stock.adobe.com
Al Falasi said the expanded edition of the previous four-day week trial builds on the successful outcomes seen last year.
He said the move supports Dubai's aspirations to be a leader in delivering 'flexible, sustainable, and people-centric government services.'
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The change comes amid an increasing number of four-day week changes and trials other flexible working systems across the world.
Australia, Japan, the UK, Canada, Ireland, the US and Iceland are just some of the nations that have been experimenting with reduced working hours.
One of the common ways that companies implement a four-day week is by using the 100:80:100 model, in which staff keep 100% of their pay but have their work hours reduced to 80%.
However, they must maintain 100% of their productivity in order for the change to work.
Other options include allowing staff to work a shorter week but for less pay, or offering standard 40 hour weeks condensed over four days.
In April, amended laws were introduced in Japan requiring companies to offer flexible work options for employees with young children, such as reduced working hours or remote work, in a bid to reverse the country's rapidly declining birthrate.
As a result, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, one of the country's largest employers with over 160,000 workers, announced it would be introducing a four-day work week.
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'We will continue to review work styles flexibly to ensure that women do not have to sacrifice their careers due to life events such as childbirth or child-rearing,' Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, said at the time of the announcement.
3 However, they must maintain 100% of their productivity in order for the change to work.
aFotostock – stock.adobe.com
'Empowering women, a goal that has lagged far behind the rest of the world, has been a longstanding issue in our country.'
Earlier this year, it was announced that 200 companies across the United Kingdom, comprising a total of more than 5000 employees, had now changed their policies to allow staff to work four days a week, with the same pay and no requirement for longer working days.
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The shortened week movement has also been gaining traction in Australia.
In the past few years there has been a sharp rise in companies adopting the new working model, with Medibank and Bunnings among the major Australian brands that have begun trialing the change.
Speaking to news.com.au earlier this year, Swinburne's Associate Professor John Hopkins believes that this is a trend we can expect to see continue to rise throughout 2025, both here and overseas.
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'Many companies who have tried it have experienced some great results – significant improvements in recruitment and retention, lower absenteeism, and even increased productivity – which will no doubt encourage other firms to try it and see if they can achieve similar gains,' he said.
This is also backed up by data, with recent research from recruiter Robert Half revealing just over a third of Australian companies surveyed expect their organization will transition to a four-day work week within the next five years.
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Newsweek
31-07-2025
- Newsweek
Countries Trialing a Four Day Week in 2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A growing list of countries has begun experimenting with four-day workweeks to improve efficiency and combat rising rates of burnout and stress among employees. Although none have implemented the change nationwide as policy, many trials are ongoing in the private and public sector, and could inaugurate a change in how companies across the globe think about productivity, employee wellbeing, and workplace culture. "The four-day week offers significant benefits for both workers and organisations," said Rita Fontinha, professor of Strategic Human Resource Management at Henley Business School and a frequent researcher into the feasibility of a four-day working week. Which Countries Are Trialing a Four-Day Workweek in 2025? Newsweek found that three countries are currently involved in some form of four-day workweek trial, in which employees are offered the same financial compensation despite the reduced hours. Japan As of April, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has offered its employees the option to work four-day weeks under the 100:80:100 model – in which they will receive the same pay despite working only 80 percent of the hours, but are expected to maintain 100 percent productivity. This change is intended to improve flexible working arrangements for Japan's women and is linked to a broader push to address the country's ongoing fertility crisis. "We will continue to review work styles flexibly to ensure that women do not have to sacrifice their careers due to life events such as childbirth or child-rearing," said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in December, quoted by The Japan Times. United Arab Emirates A public-sector pilot is currently taking place in Dubai as part of the city's "Our Flexible Summer" initiative. Set to run from the beginning of July to mid-September, the scheme follows a successful trial from 2024. Two groups of government employees across several entities will have their days and hours adjusted as part of the program: The first will work eight-hour days from Monday to Thursday, while the second will work seven-hour days from Monday to Thursday, and four-and-a-half hours on Friday. Portugal A government-backed pilot of the four-day workweek is currently taking place in the Azores Autonomous Region. According to The Portugal News, the Azorean government believes the public sector trial will increase productivity and could be expanded to the private sector. 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These financial gains are linked to reduced absenteeism and turnover, and a stronger ability to attract and retain talent—resulting in long-term savings in human resource management." Countries Trialing a Four Day Week in 2025 Countries Trialing a Four Day Week in 2025 Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty Recent studies have confirmed these findings. One of the largest trials yet, involving nearly 3,000 employees and 141 organizations across six countries, published its results from a six-month experiment last week. Employees reported increased job satisfaction as well as improved mental and physical health, without major losses of productivity. A previous study conducted in the U.K. found similar improvements in employee wellbeing, with no noticeable decline in revenue over the six-month period. 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New York Post
27-06-2025
- New York Post
This major city has ditched the five-day work week — employee happiness increases
Another major city is introducing a four-day week for thousands of workers, with the shorter work week movement continuing to grow globally. Within a matter of days, employees in Dubai's public sector will be enjoying three-day weekends and reduced working hours as part of the city's 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative. Advertisement Kicking off on July 1 and running until September 12, the reduced summer schedule introduced by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) aims to allow workers more flexibility and access to greater work-life balance. 3 Employees in Dubai's public sector will be enjoying three-day weekends and reduced working hours as part of the city's 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative. Naypong Studio – As part of the scheme, public sector employees will be divided and put onto two separate flexible working schedules. Those in group one will work Monday to Thursday for 8 hours a day and have Fridays off. Advertisement Those in group two will also work Monday to Thursday but only for 7 hours a day and will work 4.5 hour days on Fridays. The government decided to roll out the change to all employees following a successful pilot phase last year which was found to have improved overall employee satisfaction and happiness, along with increased productivity. Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director-General of DGHR, said the policy reflected the government's overall vision to create a modern workforce that prioritizes work-life balance. 'This isn't just a shift in working hours — it's a reflection of the government's evolving mindset. We are prioritizing employee wellbeing alongside institutional efficiency,' he said. Advertisement 'This initiative demonstrates our firm commitment to enhancing the government work environment, making it more adaptable and responsive to the needs of employees and the community.' 3 The government decided to roll out the change to all employees following a successful pilot phase last year. Dan Dalton/KOTO – Al Falasi said the expanded edition of the previous four-day week trial builds on the successful outcomes seen last year. He said the move supports Dubai's aspirations to be a leader in delivering 'flexible, sustainable, and people-centric government services.' Advertisement The change comes amid an increasing number of four-day week changes and trials other flexible working systems across the world. Australia, Japan, the UK, Canada, Ireland, the US and Iceland are just some of the nations that have been experimenting with reduced working hours. One of the common ways that companies implement a four-day week is by using the 100:80:100 model, in which staff keep 100% of their pay but have their work hours reduced to 80%. However, they must maintain 100% of their productivity in order for the change to work. Other options include allowing staff to work a shorter week but for less pay, or offering standard 40 hour weeks condensed over four days. In April, amended laws were introduced in Japan requiring companies to offer flexible work options for employees with young children, such as reduced working hours or remote work, in a bid to reverse the country's rapidly declining birthrate. As a result, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, one of the country's largest employers with over 160,000 workers, announced it would be introducing a four-day work week. Advertisement 'We will continue to review work styles flexibly to ensure that women do not have to sacrifice their careers due to life events such as childbirth or child-rearing,' Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, said at the time of the announcement. 3 However, they must maintain 100% of their productivity in order for the change to work. aFotostock – 'Empowering women, a goal that has lagged far behind the rest of the world, has been a longstanding issue in our country.' Earlier this year, it was announced that 200 companies across the United Kingdom, comprising a total of more than 5000 employees, had now changed their policies to allow staff to work four days a week, with the same pay and no requirement for longer working days. Advertisement The shortened week movement has also been gaining traction in Australia. In the past few years there has been a sharp rise in companies adopting the new working model, with Medibank and Bunnings among the major Australian brands that have begun trialing the change. Speaking to earlier this year, Swinburne's Associate Professor John Hopkins believes that this is a trend we can expect to see continue to rise throughout 2025, both here and overseas. Advertisement 'Many companies who have tried it have experienced some great results – significant improvements in recruitment and retention, lower absenteeism, and even increased productivity – which will no doubt encourage other firms to try it and see if they can achieve similar gains,' he said. This is also backed up by data, with recent research from recruiter Robert Half revealing just over a third of Australian companies surveyed expect their organization will transition to a four-day work week within the next five years.
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Dubai has announced a four-day work week and shorter working hours for all its public sector workers. It's the latest major global city to embrace the move towards a shorter working week in a bid to improve work-life balance for workers, with many companies in Australia also jumping on the trend. The temporary change will run from July 1 until September 12, 2025, as part of the government's 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative. It follows a successful initial trial scheme in 2024, which found improved productivity and employee satisfaction. Government employees will be split into two groups. The first group will work for eight hours from Monday until Thursday and get Friday off. The second group will work for seven hours from Monday until Thursday, and work four-and-a-half hours on Friday. RELATED Major 'roadblock' to Australia ushering in a four-day work week revealed Centrelink $836 cash boost for 'very real' truth facing thousands of Aussies ATO issues July 1 warning to Aussies waiting on $1,500 tax refunds Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, said the government was aiming to balance institutional efficiency and workers' wellbeing. 'This initiative demonstrates our firm commitment to enhancing the government work environment, making it more adaptable and responsive to the needs of employees and the community,' he said. While the policy won't apply to private sector workers, there have been calls from the Dubai and UAE governments to bring in more remote and flexible hours across the April, Tokyo implemented a four-day work week for metropolitan government employees in a bid to boost record-low fertility rates. Some 200 companies across the United Kingdom have also permanently implemented a four-day work week following trials with 4 Day Week Foundation. That included charities, marketing, technology, IT and software, and consulting firms. In Australia, high-profile companies like Medibank and Bunnings have trialled the change. Companies will commonly implement a 100:80:100 model, where employees keep 100 per cent of their pay, have their work hours reduced to 80 per cent, but have to maintain 100 per cent of their productivity. Thrive Nation chief disruptor Christian Miran told Yahoo Finance Australian companies were 'ready' for the shift. The work revolution architect previously worked at Medibank and led the insurer's four-day work week trial. 'Australia is really prime for this now. This is the next wave of understanding of how we could be more productive,' he said. Recent research conducted by Swinburne University of Technology involved interviews with 10 Australian firms that had adopted the 100:80:100 model. It found the potential for positive outcomes from employers and employees. Workers reported having better work-life balance and more time for life admin, hobbies, exercise, wellness and self-care. Bosses, on the other hand, cited productivity gains, reduced sick days and significant improvements in recruitment and retention rates. Researchers noted there were still doubts over productivity and output being maintained. It also noted there could be costs associated with in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
