In Iceland, a recent experiment aimed to determine whether working fewer hours while maintaining the same salary could lead to increased efficiency and productivity. Iceland is known for having some of the longest working hours in the world, with an average of 47 years of working life for its citizens. This has led to concerns about work-life balance and high rates of burnout. Two experiments were conducted in Iceland to investigate the effects of reducing working hours. The first experiment involved up to 2,500 participants, while the second had over 400 participants. The results of the experiments are now in, and they suggest that reducing working hours can lead to increased productivity.
Participants in the experiments reduced their weekly working hours from 40 to 36 or 35 while maintaining the same salary. Surprisingly, the results showed that productivity levels remained the same or even increased in many cases. To prevent a decrease in productivity, the reduction in working hours was accompanied by a revision of work processes. Meetings were shortened or replaced with emails, and tasks that could be eliminated were identified. Participants reported feeling less stressed and having a better work-life balance. The study was conducted by the think tank Autonomy, in collaboration with the non-governmental organization Alda and Icelandic trade unions.
While the results of the experiments are promising, it is unclear how robust they are and whether they can be applied to other countries with more complex economic structures than Iceland. Nonetheless, the study suggests that reducing working hours can lead to increased productivity and better work-life balance.
