Why B Lab Europe and Benelux Are Testing a Four-Day Workweek

For over a decade, we have guided thousands of companies in Europe to rethink their business practices and balance profit with their impact on people and the planet. And we at B Lab, too, are committed to continuous impact improvement. As a forward-thinking organization with the mission to change the economic system, B Lab deeply embraces experimentation and innovation to find new ways that shift the behavior, culture, and structure of capitalism. 

But let’s face it – A cultural shift starts within your very own company culture. At B Lab, we recognize the importance of considering the impact we have on our employees. Therefore, together with B Lab Benelux, B Lab Europe is now taking a bold step to rethink ways of working: We are trialing a four-day workweek. 

The Struggle for a Healthy Work-Life Balance

The 40+ hour workweek, broadly accepted as the default work schedule today, is a product from the industrial age when businesses prioritized profit above all, and productivity was measured in hours worked. This traditional understanding of a linear relationship between productivity and time has long been proven wrong, with studies finding that reduced work hours can lead to increased efficiency and better employee well-being (Harvard Business Review, CEPR). At the same time, more and more businesses are acknowledging their responsibility to balance profit with their social and environmental impact. Today, post-COVID, employees rank flexibility more important than ever before (McKinsey), artificial intelligence is assisting our work, making our use of time more efficient, while high stress and burnout rates signal a broken capitalistic system. 

In this context, initiatives like testing the four-day workweek are an opportunity to abandon ways of working that are no longer fit for purpose, embrace the future, and create more resilient teams, organizations, and economies that benefit people and the planet.

B Corps at the Forefront of Rethinking Employee Well-Being

While the four-day workweek is still in its early stages, pioneering companies who are prioritizing employee health and happiness are already reaping the fruits of their actions: A motivated and well-rested efficient workforce, alongside numerous additional benefits.  

Innovative companies in various industries and countries have already piloted and implemented the four-day workweek successfully, leading the way for the broader business community. It’s no surprise that many Certified B Corps – progressive by nature – are among those pioneers. The team of Stone Soup Consulting, a B Corp from Portugal, recently shared their experience on reducing work hours, Dutch B Corp WeTransfer announced a temporary shift to a four-day workweek, and Tyler Grange from the UK B Corp community was named one of the Best Places to Work 2024 after scrapping Fridays. The trend is also spreading in the wider business landscape with large companies like Panasonic and Microsoft Japan experimenting with new work models. Large-scale studies like in Portugal, the UK, Ireland, Iceland, New Zealand, and Spain show further promising results.

Walking The Talk: The Four-Day Work Week in Action

From June 1st to November 2024, B Lab Europe and B Lab Benelux, with both teams based in Amsterdam, are adopting the 100-80-100 model: 100% productivity, 80% time, and 100% pay. This means we are reducing our workweek to four days, totaling 32 hours per week. 

To enable this compressed schedule and facilitate a smooth transition, we are focusing on prioritization, automation, and re-evaluating existing meetings and workflows. In addition, support structures are set up for our teams in this early stage of adoption to counter arising challenges.

Impact of the Pilot and Measuring What Matters

In short, the pilot will be deemed successful if we can enhance the well-being and happiness of our teams while maintaining our productivity and capacity to achieve our goals. Various metrics are used to gauge the pilot’s success, including team survey results pre-, during and post-trial, productivity data, and qualitative feedback from internal and external stakeholders. Simultaneously, we will continue to measure our performance and progress against our 2024 strategic objectives.

At the end of the pilot period, B Lab Europe and B Lab Benelux will evaluate whether to continue with the pilot, revert to our previous schedules, or transition to a four-day workweek permanently.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, we continue to draw inspiration and support from our colleagues at B Lab US & Canada and pioneering B Corps who have already adopted the four-day workweek. Like them, we aim to inspire others. Organizations like 4 Day Week Global have made important contributions in providing data that proves that a shorter workweek leads to improved employee well-being, mental health, teamwork, and increased productivity. Our focus now is testing this model in our context.

A four-day workweek is about more than just adjusting schedules; it’s a deliberate step towards enhancing employee well-being, productivity, and our overall impact. We are taking a step-by-step approach to this pilot, embracing experimentation and gradual implementation. We know that our success relies on the collaborative and creative spirit of our team members and that supporting each other is crucial in our journey forward. 

As we move ahead, we envision a future where it’s not the hours that matter but the actual impact of our work on people and the planet. We are thrilled about the positive response we have received so far and can’t wait to share our journey and trial results with you!