France will launch a pilot project on the four-day working week in 2025

Key information

• The four-day working week is gaining ground around the world, with the launch of a pilot program in France.
• Participating companies will be subject to a two-month preparation phase before implementation.
• Options for implementing the four-day workweek include changing to four-day weeks, irregular schedules, and weekly closures.

The concept of the four-day working week is gaining ground around the world, with organizations such as 4jours.work running trials in different countries. After successful trials in the UK and GermanyFrance is now joining the movement, inviting companies to participate in a six-month pilot program starting in February 2025.

This campaign aims to provide a data-based assessment of the impact of the four-day work week on workers and businesses. Before implementation, the participating companies will go through a two-month preparation phase including training, updating the organizational structure and establishing performance measures. The focus is on measuring things like employee wellbeing, stress levels, productivity, revenue growth, absenteeism rates and environmental footprint.

Implementation strategies and variations

4jours.work emphasizes a personalized approach, recognizing that the best implementation varies from sector to sector. Options include rotating four-week shifts, irregular schedules, weekly closures, and incorporating remote work arrangements. This flexibility aims to address economic constraints while exploring different models. Previous trials in Germany have used devices such as wearable technology to monitor workers’ stress levels and sleep quality, in addition to traditional performance indicators.

A wide range of French companies, from a small design group in Paris to an educational group with 100 employees in the Rhône region, have signed up for this test. The list is open to other applications, reflecting the growing interest in this alternative working model.

Comparative context and overview of the sector

The historical context of the five-day work week, introduced by Henry Ford in 1926, is a point of comparison. Although productivity has increased significantly since then, the typical work week has remained largely unchanged. Philippe du Payrat, co-founder of 4jours.work, argues that today’s work models should prioritize organizational efficiency and employee well-being, considering factors such as global productivity differences and frequency remote job growth.

In regions facing recruitment challenges, such as the United States, the four-day week has emerged as an attractive benefit for potential workers. According to 4 Day Week Global, job postings with this benefit increased by 50 percent between 2021 and 2023. Despite the growing interest, there is still skepticism, especially among small business owners. who are concerned about customer expectations, fixed opening hours and possible product cuts. These concerns are even greater in France, where the average number of working hours per person is already low compared to other OECD countries, and where overall productivity is declining. Historically, productivity gains have paved the way for more worker-friendly work regimes.

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