Microsoft Japan (NASDAQ: MSFT) conducted a productivity experiment by testing out a four day work week system.
Work-Life Choice Challenge
Microsoft Japan started implementing a project called Work-Life Choice Challenge in order to boost productivity and efficiency.
As a part of the project, Microsoft Japan gave all of its employees all Fridays off during the month of August.
Although Microsoft shortened the working week of its employees, it did not decrease their pay.
The goal of the project was to boost maximize profit.
The experiment encouraged employees to achieve the same outcome with at least 20% less working time.
The experiment was successful in maximizing efficiency while increasing leisure time.
Results
Microsoft Japan announced the results of its experiment last week.
According to Microsoft Japan, four day working weeks boosted productivity by 40%.
The results of the experiment have been overwhelmingly positive for the company.
According to the results of the experiment, four day working weeks led to an increase in happiness.
Furthermore, working fewer days increased the productivity of employees.
Employees requested less time off during the month of August. Moreover, Microsoft Japan reported that four day weeks led to more productive meetings.
Furthermore, shortening work weeks decreased Microsoft Japan’s sunk costs by bringing electricity use down by 23%.
Employees lowered the cost of Microsoft Japan by printing less paper as well as using less water at work.
The experiment also included a plan to subsidize vacations for Microsoft Japan employees in order to make family vacations more affordable and accessible.
Happiness & Productivity
An increasing number of studies suggest that there is a positive linear relationship between happiness levels and productivity levels at work.
Happier employees work more efficiently. They produce a larger quantity and better quality of work during their time at work.
The experiment conducted by Microsoft Japan concluded that shortening work weeks increased happiness levels at work.
92% of Microsoft Japan employees reported that they were happier when working for four days a week as opposed to five days a week.
As companies look for ways to boost productivity and profit, increasing efficiency by shortening work weeks can be a viable option for many.
Four day working weeks have been becoming more popular among companies.
Some of the other companies who experimented adopting four day weeks are Shake Shack (NYSE: SHAK) and Tree House (NSE: TREEHOUSE).
Company leaders have been increasingly in favour of shortening work weeks to boost productivity at work.
Following the success of Microsoft’s experiment, it is likely that companies such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) will consider conducting similar productivity experiments.
