“I see lots of wins.”
Haar said businesses had nothing to lose by trialling a four-day work week.
“If the extra day off is too much for the boss, definitely a few hours or even an hour a day for January … companies should be encouraged to try these things,” he said.
“Organisations need to be a bit braver… try it for a couple of weeks in January and see where things land. If it’s a hit, drag it into February.
“I think if we had a brain scan of New Zealand workers in January, I bet you people’s brains have checked out at 3pm.”
A Telus Health survey of more than 1000 New Zealand workers in the June 2025 quarter found 63% felt somewhat or extremely burned out, while 41% reported feeling constant stress.
The data showed more than a third (37%) of employees remained at high mental health risk, a figure that has barely shifted since 2020.
“Since Covid … people are still naturally struggling,” Haar said.
“Those are things that are detrimental to performance. The more organisations can focus on ways to improve worker wellbeing, that will aid their ability to perform.
“We do have a lot of 50-hour-week stuff here in New Zealand. How much of that is poor planning or poor productivity?”
Dr Jarrod Haar, professor of management and Māori business at Massey University, says there is enough evidence to show the four-day week could work. Photo / Supplied
Haar said it was a matter of trusting workers to get the work done.
“Really, it’s about understanding what work needs to be done, giving people the freedom to change the way it’s done, so it all gets done in four days instead of five,” he said.
“I think that’s the missing step, is that trust.”
Caleb Hulme-Moir, founder and director of Mana Communications, implemented a nine-day fortnight at his agency during Covid.
“It has been really good. It’s a policy that’s not going to change,” Hulme-Moir told the Herald.
He said the team had responded well to the change and they had not seen a loss in productivity with any of the work they do.
“On the shorter week we’re a bit more crunched. You do feel that shorter week and you appreciate the five days when you have them, but you also appreciate the extra day off.
“We try to structure things, so we have more meetings in the longer week.”
Before returning to New Zealand, Hulme-Moir worked in the financial district in both London and Sydney.
“Consultancy life in those cities is extremely long hours,” he said.
“Life is short and that’s not any way to live. It’s just unnecessary really.
“I think we culturally need to modernise and just work a little bit less. And it’s never been easier with the advent of technology.”
Hulme-Moir encouraged companies to try some form of shorter working week.
“I think uptake has been stubbornly low. [Businesses] should just give it a go because time is precious, so give people more time,” he said.
“Pick a time of year, choose six months, commit to it for six months … and assess it. If it’s not working for you, go back. As long as you’re being clear with your staff that it’s a trial, then you’re probably going to be okay if you go back.”
Hulme-Moir said he was still open to the idea of a four-day work week.
“I’d probably have to hire more people,” he said.
Cameron Smith is an Auckland-based business reporter. He joined the Herald in 2015 and has covered business and sports. He reports on topics such as retail, small business, the workplace and macroeconomics.