This archive report was first published on 5 November 2019.
On August 1, 2019, Microsoft Japan embarked on a radical experiment: a 4-day workweek for its 2,300 full-time employees. The trial, which ran for a month, aimed to boost productivity and reduce costs. The results were nothing short of astonishing.
According to Microsoft Japan, sales per employee rose by almost 40% in August compared to the same period the previous year. Electricity consumption decreased by a quarter, and paper usage was cut in half. The company attributed the success of the trial to employees' desire for varied working styles.
While the trial was a success, Microsoft Japan will not be offering special leave to its employees. Instead, employees will be encouraged to use their existing holiday days to work from home or adjust their schedules. This move aligns with Japan's government push for more flexible work styles, including telecommuting, part-time schedules, and off-peak commuting.
The effort is part of a broader attempt to address the issue of 'karoshi,' or death from overwork, and encourage overworked couples to have children in a country struggling with a shrinking population.
