In 2019, Iceland made headlines as one of the first countries in the world to adopt a four-day workweek, not through sweeping legislation, but through agreements allowing workers to negotiate shorter work weeks or reduced hours. Fast forward five years, and the results are undeniable—a successful shift that is now being looked at as a blueprint for the future.
Initial Concerns That Were Quickly Dismissed
The Icelandic experiment began in 2015 with a pilot phase involving around 2,500 workers, just over 1% of the country’s workforce. With 86% of participants expressing support for the initiative, the project was officially implemented in 2019. Today, almost 90% of Icelandic workers enjoy a reduced workweek of 36 hours, down from the traditional 40 hours, without any reduction in pay.
Initial concerns about the four-day workweek were common, both in Iceland and around the world. Many feared a drop in productivity, increased business costs, and challenges in maintaining service levels. However, the results have completely shattered these concerns.
Icelandic reports indicate that productivity remained stable or even increased in some sectors. One of the key reasons for this success lies in the improvement of mental health among workers—a crucial aspect that Generation Z has been advocating for. The reduction in stress, along with a better work-life balance, has had a significant positive impact on employee well-being.
Technology as a Key to Success
One of the most striking aspects of Iceland’s experience is how it has promoted gender equality. By encouraging men to take on more family responsibilities, the four-day workweek has led to a more balanced division of household and parenting duties. Freed from the constraints of traditional working hours, men have had more time to spend with their children and take an active role in domestic tasks.
Unlike some countries, like Belgium, where the four-day workweek involves compensating for the lost hours by working longer days, Iceland has managed to maintain unchanged salaries and working conditions, even with the reduced hours. This approach has been made possible by the country’s strong commitment to digitalizing businesses and public services.
The Icelandic government invested heavily in digital infrastructure, offering one of the fastest internet connections in the world, even in rural areas. This robust infrastructure has allowed telecommuting to thrive, enabling continued productivity despite fewer hours spent in the office.
Additionally, Generation Z, having grown up in a digital environment, has naturally adapted to this new way of working, helping ensure a smooth transition to the four-day workweek.
A Model for the Rest of the World
The impact of the four-day workweek extends beyond the workplace. Icelanders report significant improvements in their quality of life. They now have more time for leisure, family, and friends. Stress related to time constraints has decreased, and people feel generally happier and more fulfilled.
María Hjálmtýsdóttir, an activist and teacher, shares her thoughts on the change:
“The reduction of the workweek has been a huge success in Iceland and has changed my family’s life. For 90% of Icelanders, the 36-hour workweek means less stress, more job satisfaction, and more time to enjoy life.”
Iceland’s experience has become an inspiring example for other countries considering the adoption of the four-day workweek. Pilot projects are already underway in countries like Germany, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, while Belgium has implemented the four-day workweek with a system for compensating the hours, limiting its widespread adoption.
Despite the success of the four-day workweek, Iceland’s EU membership debate continues to divide society. The upcoming elections will offer citizens the chance to weigh in on this crucial issue. Only the Social Democrats and the liberal Reform Party openly support EU integration, while the ruling coalition (ecologists, conservatives, and liberals) opposes it.
The Icelandic experiment proves that the four-day workweek is not only viable but offers significant benefits for both workers and society. By placing individual well-being at the core of its priorities, Iceland has created a more humane and sustainable work model that could inspire other nations to follow suit. Generation Z, advocating for this cause, has helped pave the way toward a future where work adapts to the needs of individuals, not the other way around. Iceland’s success shows that their predictions weren’t just utopian—a fundamental shift in how we relate to work is not only possible but desirable.
