The Future of Work—Why Unilever’s 4-Day Work Week is a Game-Changer
The traditional workweek is getting a modern makeover, and Unilever Australia and New Zealand are leading the charge. Inspired by a successful 18-month trial in New Zealand, Unilever has extended its four-day work week (4DWW) initiative across the ditch to Australia, showing us that less can truly be more.
What is the 4DWW?
At its core, the 4DWW follows the 100:80:100 principle: employees work 80% of the time while keeping 100% of their pay and maintaining 100% commitment to business outcomes. Unilever has avoided mandating which day employees take off, empowering teams to craft schedules that suit their needs without disrupting operations.
The Results Speak Volumes
Unilever’s New Zealand pilot delivered impressive results:
Revenue growth stayed on target.
Employee well-being soared, with stress levels dropping by 33%.
Work-life balance improved significantly, with conflicts between the two falling by 67%.
Absenteeism was reduced by 34%, and employees reported feeling 15% more energized.
Even stakeholders gave a thumbs-up, with 100% confirming that the team maintained high-quality outputs.
The initiative also streamlined meetings, cutting down an average of 3.5 hours per week, enabling staff to focus on meaningful work.
Why It Matters
Unilever’s approach isn’t just about enhancing productivity—it’s about reimagining work itself. They’ve shown how prioritizing employee well-being can coexist with strong business performance. As workplaces evolve post-pandemic, these results could inspire others to adopt similar practices, proving flexibility benefits everyone.
Bringing It Home
The trial continues in Australia, where Unilever is applying lessons learned from New Zealand. Early indications suggest the model is scalable, thanks to careful planning, tools like Microsoft Teams, and a culture of collaboration.
Unilever’s 4DWW experiment is a bold step toward a more sustainable, people-focused future of work. Could this be the new normal? Only time—and maybe your own workplace—will tell.
For more details on Unilever’s 4DWW journey, visit Unilever's official page
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