Azores public sector pilot tests four-day work week

A pilot project testing a four-day work week within the Regional Public Administration of the Azores has concluded, showing that reduced working hours can be compatible with maintaining or improving productivity. The study, coordinated by Professor Rita Fontinha of Henley Business School, involved approximately 400 workers across 14 entities during the first half of the year.

Participants tested a reduction from 35 to 32 weekly hours through various formats, such as four eight-hour days or four and a half days. Of the 182 productivity metrics observed, 62% showed improvement or substantial improvement, while 17% remained stable and 21% declined. Notably, the Integrated Citizen Support Network (RIAC) saw an increase in service appointments on some islands and a 43% decrease in forced closure hours.

Employee feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 89% of workers expressing a desire for the model to continue, rating the experience 8.56 out of 10. The final report recommends that the Regional Government avoid a uniform immediate application, instead opting for further experimentation with models tailored to the specific needs and operational realities of individual entities.