Four-day work week boosts Spanish workers' health, pilot program shows
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[October 18, 2023]
MADRID (Reuters) - Four-day work weeks improved Spanish workers'
health such as by lowering stress while reducing fuel emissions and
benefiting children, a pilot program showed on Tuesday.
The coastal city of Valencia - Spain's third-largest with more than
800,000 inhabitants - scheduled local holidays to fall on four
consecutive Mondays between April 10 and May 7 this year. The project
affected 360,000 workers.
Many participants used the long weekends to develop healthier habits
such as practicing sport, resting and eating homemade food, according to
an independent commission of health and social science experts that
evaluated the program.
The data showed an improvement in self-perceived health status, lower
stress levels and better feelings regarding tiredness, happiness, mood
and personal satisfaction, it added.
A drop in the use of motor vehicles led to better air quality on the
four Mondays during the program's period, as less nitrogen dioxide was
emitted, according to the city's daily emissions measurements.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Oct/18/images/ads/current/charrons_bch_2022.png)
However, smokers and drinkers increased their overall use of tobacco and
alcohol, it added.
A high percentage of those surveyed said they were more likely to read,
study, watch films and pursue hobbies like photography, music or
painting, the commission said. It did not specify the percentage.
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![](../images/101823PIX/health28.jpg)
The Four Towers business district skyline is seen at sunset in
Madrid, Spain November 18, 2017. Picture taken November 18, 2017.
REUTERS/Paul Hanna/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/May/02/images/ads/current/guzzardo_lda022609.png) Children benefited the most, thanks
to improved work-life balance enjoyed by their parents, the
commission found.
While the hospitality and tourism sectors served more customers
during extended weekends, retailers reported a decrease in sales and
emergency medical services may have been overextended as more
healthcare workers took time off, the report said.
The project was designed by the left-wing Compromis coalition of
progressive, green and regionalist parties, which ruled the city at
the time.
Last year, the Spanish government launched a similar two-year
project focused on small and medium-sized industrial companies
nationwide.
($1 = 0.9451 euros)
(Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Rod Nickel)
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