Microsoft trials four-day work week with 40% increase in productivity

Microsoft tested out a four-day work week in its Japan offices and found that its employees were happier and significantly more productive. In August 2019, Microsoft Japan experimented with a project called Work-Life Choice Challenge Summer 2019, giving its entire 2,300-person workforce five Fridays off in a row without decreasing pay.

   Microsoft Japan says that sales were boosted by 40% after its Work Life Choice Challenge 2019. Particularly, staff worked a four-day week for full pay, and Microsoft Japan has revealed that sales were boosted by nearly 40% during the month (August 2019) in which the trial was run.

   Meetings were also restricted to a maximum of 30 minutes, while employees were encouraged to have discussions online as opposed to meeting face-to-face. Of those employees who participated in the challenge 92% had positive thoughts about the experiment when they were surveyed after its conclusion.

   “Work a short time, rest well and learn a lot,” Microsoft Japan president and CEO Takuya Hirano said in a statement to Microsoft Japan’s website. “I want employees to think about and experience how they can achieve the same results with 20% less working time.”

   Furthermore, according to Microsoft Japan, electricity consumption was reduced by 23%, and paper printing was reduced by 59% during the month-long trial when compared to the amount of energy and paper used in August 2018. Microsoft Japan’s challenge was a pilot project, however the company said that it plans to implement another iteration of the challenge this winter.