Study: Is Switzerland willing to decide for four working days and three days off

Research to examine the feasibility of a four-day work week launched in Switzerland.

The pilot project, which will be carried out by Bern's Applied Sciences University, along with a non-profit organisation, 4-day Java and a number of Swiss companies, will test the sustainability of a short work week,

The reason, according to experts, is that Switzerland's typical five-day work week, 42 hours plus, increases stress levels to an increasing number of employees.

The study authors estimate “economic potential” from reducing stress related to performance to 6.5 billion francs, explains albinfo.ch.

It is not the first time this issue is raised in Switzerland: in 2022, while the idea had gained support from left MPs, economists argued that businesses, rather than the state, should make decisions regarding working schedules.

The pilot project will last six months.