The case against the four-day work week, made carefully
A new longitudinal study finds productivity gains plateau after year two — and customer satisfaction drops in service sectors.
David Okoro1 min read413 views
What Happened
Researchers at LSE published a five-year study of 240 firms that adopted four-day schedules. Knowledge work showed sustained gains, but hospitality and healthcare reported rising overtime costs and slower response times.
Why It Matters
The debate is shifting from whether four-day weeks work to where they work — and who pays when they don't.
Key Takeaway
Four-day weeks are a sector-specific tool, not a universal upgrade.