Microsoft Japan says four-day work week boosted productivity 40%

Among workers responding to a survey about the programme, 92% said they were pleased with the four-day week, the software maker’s Japan affiliate said in a report on its website on Oct 31. — Bloomberg

After spending August experimenting with a four-day work week in a country notorious for overwork, Microsoft Japan said sales per employee rose 40% compared with the same month last year.

The "Work-Life Choice Challenge Summer 2019” saw full-time employees take off five consecutive Fridays in August with pay, as well as shortening meetings to a maximum of 30 minutes and encouraging online chats over face-to-face ones. Among workers responding to a survey about the programme, 92% said they were pleased with the four-day week, the software maker’s Japan affiliate said in a report on its website on Oct 31.