Is the 4-day work week quietly eroding productivity?

According to Great Place To Work’s analysis of the four-day debate, many organisations struggle to offer the same pattern across all roles. Knowledge workers, tech, and head office teams are often able to take a fixed day off, while frontline, service, or support staff must maintain coverage five or seven days a week. 

That can create an internal divide between employees who gain a highly visible benefit and those who feel left behind.

From a productivity perspective, this is not just a culture issue. When parts of the workforce feel unfairly treated, employee effort, collaboration, and willingness to go the extra mile tend to suffer. 

One of the challenges for HR professionals is that much of the pro–four-day narrative leans heavily on short-term pilots and self‑reported metrics.

According to 4dayweek.io, employees in national and multi‑company pilots have consistently reported better work–life balance, improved mental health, and lower intent to quit.