Three out of four professionals in China believe four-day workweeks would boost productivity

Hays, the world's leading recruitment and workforce solutions specialist, polled working professionals on LinkedIn across five locations in Asia including China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Respondents were asked to weigh in on their sense of productivity in four-day workweek.

 

The findings reveal strong support for the model, particularly in China, where 73 per cent of respondents believe they would be more focused if required to complete their tasks within a four-day timeframe, the highest percentage among all surveyed markets. This was followed by Hong Kong (69 per cent), Malaysia (65 per cent), and Japan (54 per cent).

 

“The idea of a four-day workweek is resonating with professionals who are seeking greater efficiency and focus in their work,” said Sue Wei, Managing Director at Hays Greater China. “This is especially relevant in China, where one in three professionals (33 per cent) polled in the Hays Asia Salary Guide reported dissatisfaction with their current work-life balance.”

 

Resistance to the concept was minimal, with only six per cent of respondents expressing concern that the workload would be too heavy for a shortened week. Meanwhile, two per cent indicated that the change would have little impact due to already having flexible schedules, and 19 per cent said their performance would depend on the nature of their role.

 

 

The concept of offering professionals an additional day of rest within the standard workweek continues to gain traction globally. A pilot study in the United Kingdom demonstrated that participants in a reduced workweek reported fewer absences and lower turnover, outcomes closely linked to improved work-life balance.

 

“In China, enhancements to employee wellbeing through better work-life balance have also been associated with stronger retention and recruitment outcomes. Today, one in four professionals consider an employer’s work-life balance initiatives when evaluating new opportunities, while 24 per cent have chosen to remain with their current employer due to availability of a healthy work-life balance ,” said Sue.

 

Beyond boosting employee productivity, shorter workweeks also help reduce operating costs, allowing organisations committed to remaining closed one extra day a week to save on utilities and other overheads. These efficiencies contribute meaningfully to Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) goals—by lowering carbon emissions, supporting employee wellbeing, and reinforcing a company’s commitment to sustainable and socially responsible business practices.

 

 

Despite the growing interest in shorter workweeks, it remains unclear how many organisations have formally adopted the four-day model. The traditional five-day workweek continues to be the global norm, but signs of change are emerging.

 

“It wasn’t long ago that companies in China began to push back against the ‘996 work culture’, which fostered unhealthy work habits and undermined work-life balance. Today, more business leaders recognise that employee wellbeing is essential to sustaining productivity, particularly in a challenging economic climate,” said Sue.

 

“As more data becomes available on the benefits of four-day workweeks, the focus will shift to how organisations can strategically implement this model. The real challenge will be developing a clear roadmap to adopt this change while staying competitive in an era where skills in demand are evolving faster than ever before,” said Sue.

 

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Contact
Bill.wang@hays.cn

 

Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, such as RPO and MSP. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 31 December 2024, the Group employed over 10,300 staff operating from 225 offices in 33 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2024:

•    the Group reported net fees of £1,113.6 million and operating profit of £105.1 million.
•    the Group placed around 57,700 candidates into permanent jobs and around 225,000 people into temporary roles.
•    13% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 32% in Germany, 20% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 35% in Rest of World (RoW).
•    the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees.
•    Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Engineering (11%), are the next largest.
•    Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, the UK, and the USA.