What in the World - Could a four-day work week become the new norm?

Download Could a four-day work week become the new norm?

A study published earlier this year showed that cutting the working week to four days instead of five significantly improved people's wellbeing. So why hasn’t it become the norm yet?

We’re joined by Sofia Bettiza, the BBC’s Global Health reporter, who breaks down all the data we have about the four-day work week, and tells us how reliable it is. Plus we hear about how work culture differs across countries like South Africa and Japan.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden
Editor: Harriet Oliver

Published on Thursday, 25th September 2025.

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