Nordic 4-Day Workweek Gains Put Mexico’s 40-Hour Reform in Focus

A Nordic four-day workweek pilot reported improvements in sleep, stress levels and perceived productivity without negative financial outcomes, highlighting the role of work organization in maintaining performance under reduced hours. The findings come as Mexico prepares to gradually reduce the legal workweek from 48 to 40 hours by 2030, a reform expected to affect more than 13 million workers and require operational adjustments across multiple industries.

A six-month pilot of a four-day workweek in Sweden and Norway reported improvements in sleep, stress levels and perceived productivity, adding new evidence to the global debate over reduced working hours. The findings emerge as Mexico moves toward implementing a constitutional reform to shorten the standard workweek from 48 to 40 hours by 2030. 

The policy shift is expected to affect more than 13 million workers and require operational changes across multiple industries.

“The productivity lesson from four-day workweek trials is not about working more hours, but about losing less time,” says Karen Lowe, Co-CEO, 4 Day Week Global, an organization promoting reduced-hour pilot programs worldwide. 

According to Lowe, international trials show that eliminating low-value work, reducing unnecessary meetings and prioritizing key tasks can improve both employee well-being and organizational performance.

The Nordic trial involved 11 companies operating in Sweden and Norway and was led by Karlstad University in collaboration with The Rework, PaceLab, Boston College and 4 Day Week Global. 

Organizations from sectors including energy, health care, consulting and social services participated in the six-month experiment, highlights El Economista. The study measured employee well-being, workplace conditions and organizational performance during the implementation of a four-day schedule.

Results indicated improvements in sleep, mental health indicators and perceived productivity, while none of the participating companies reported negative financial outcomes during the pilot period.

The experiment is part of a broader international effort to test reduced workweeks as governments and companies examine ways to address worker burnout, labor productivity and work-life balance. Several countries have explored similar models, while others have pursued regulatory reforms to shorten statutory working hours.

Mexico is among the countries currently engaged in this discussion. In February 2026, the Mexican Congress approved a constitutional reform to gradually reduce the legal workweek from 48 hours to 40 hours by 2030. Authorities say the reform aims to modernize labor standards while improving working conditions.

Well-Being Indicators Improve in Nordic pilot

According to the report, employees participating in the Nordic trial gained nearly 30 minutes of additional sleep per night. Difficulties falling asleep declined by roughly half during the six-month implementation.

Researchers also recorded improvements in mental health indicators. Workplace stress fell by 19%, while the share of employees reporting no anxiety increased from 46.5% before the trial to 64.6% during the program.

The pilot also produced changes in absenteeism. Sick leave declined across participating companies, with reductions ranging from 3% to 100% depending on the organization.

Employee perceptions of productivity also increased. Survey results indicated a 13% rise in perceived productivity levels, while participants reported maintaining their normal work pace.

Researchers noted modest increases in creativity and problem-solving indicators as well. Scores related to proposing creative solutions rose from 3.6 to 3.9 points, while frequent generation of new ideas increased from 3.4 to 3.6 points.

Most of the participating companies have indicated plans to continue operating with a shorter workweek or extend the pilot program to evaluate whether the observed results remain stable over time.

Productivity gains linked to work organization

Researchers involved in the study say reduced working hours alone do not explain the outcomes. Instead, the results were associated with changes in work organization and time management.

Companies participating in the pilot implemented several adjustments, including reducing meetings, clarifying communication channels and allocating dedicated time for focused work. Organizations also reviewed internal processes to identify tasks that added limited value to business outcomes.

Similar patterns have appeared in international four-day workweek experiments. Research conducted with Boston College found that approximately 70% of participants in global trials reported lower levels of burnout, while 40% said their mental health improved.

Maintaining salary levels during shorter workweeks has also been identified as a key factor. Studies linked to these trials emphasize that reductions in working hours generally maintain full compensation to avoid creating new financial stress for employees.

The International Labour Organization has also addressed the issue in Recommendation 116, which outlines principles for reducing working time while protecting worker income.

Mexico prepares for transition to a 40-hour workweek

Despite the reform’s political momentum, some specialists have raised concerns that the policy could become more of a symbolic measure than a structural transformation. One frequently cited issue is that the constitutional amendment maintains the framework of one mandatory rest day after six working days, which could allow certain industries to continue operating under extended schedules. In practice, this could dilute the expected shift toward a five-day workweek.

While Nordic trials focus on voluntary experiments, Mexico’s approach involves a nationwide labor reform. Congress approved a constitutional amendment to gradually reduce the legal workweek to 40 hours, with implementation scheduled between 2027 and 2030.

The reform establishes a phased timeline:

• Weekly working hours will fall to 46 in 2027.

• Hours will drop to 44 in 2028.

• Hours will drop to 42 in 2029.

• The limit will reach 40 hours in 2030.

Authorities estimate that approximately 13.5 million workers will directly benefit from the measure once it is fully implemented. The reform maintains the eight-hour daily work limit and prohibits salary reductions resulting from the shorter workweek.

Overtime will also be capped under the new framework. Employers will be permitted up to 12 hours of overtime paid at double rate and four hours at triple rate, establishing a maximum of 56 total working hours per week.

Overtime will be calculated starting from the 41st hour once the 40-hour schedule is in effect, and minors will be prohibited from performing overtime work.

Labor authorities say the reform responds to long-standing concerns about extended working hours. Data from Mexico’s National Occupation and Employment Survey indicates that nearly 64% of workers exceed a 40-hour workweek, while Mexico records among the highest annual working hours among OECD countries.

Marath Bolaños, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, STPS, says the gradual transition is designed to allow companies to adapt their operations without major disruptions.

Business adaptation and compliance requirements

The reform also introduces new compliance requirements for companies. Employers will be required to electronically record the start and end of each employee’s workday and provide those records to authorities during inspections.

Labor experts say this provision could significantly change how companies monitor working hours. Many organizations currently rely on manual or fragmented tracking systems that may not meet new regulatory standards.

Digital time-tracking systems are expected to become more widespread as companies adjust to the reform. Workforce management platforms can also assist organizations in planning shifts, forecasting labor costs and identifying overtime risks before they escalate.

For businesses, the reduction in working hours may require operational adjustments. Companies may need to reorganize schedules, adopt automation technologies or redesign workflows to maintain productivity levels.

Business groups have raised concerns about potential cost pressures, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Some analysts estimate that labor costs could increase between 10% and 25% if productivity improvements do not offset the reduction in hours.

The government has rejected proposals for fiscal incentives to support companies during the transition. Officials argue that the multi-year implementation schedule provides sufficient time for businesses to adapt.