Ireland
🇮🇪 Ireland · Europe
The 4-Day Work Week in Ireland
How Ireland trialled a shorter workweek — and what the results mean for the future of work.
Overview
Ireland's Experiment with the Shorter Week
Although Ireland hasn't officially adopted a 4-day work week at a national level, the country participated in a landmark 6-month pilot programme between January and June 2022 — monitored by researchers from Boston University and University College Dublin.
Twelve Irish small and medium enterprises joined the trial, with the goal of determining whether a reduced workweek could increase employee wellness and productivity while also lowering carbon emissions.
The outcome was unambiguous: every single company that participated chose to continue with the 4-day model after the trial concluded. No revenue was lost — one company actually saw growth. The trial has since inspired broader national conversations.
A larger, second-phase pilot was subsequently run by 4 Day Week Ireland in late 2022, this time involving 17 companies. That wave produced similarly compelling data: revenue rose by ~8% compared to the trial period, and by over 37% compared to the same period the prior year.
Ireland's public sector union Fórsa is actively campaigning for a further national trial. The government has commissioned supporting research, signalling moderate — if cautious — political interest in the idea.
Pilot Results
What the Data Showed
Results from the 17-company Irish pilot (Jun–Dec 2022), independently tracked by researchers.
- ~8% increase in revenue during the trial period
- +37.55% revenue growth vs. the same period the prior year
- Positive trend in hiring rate
- Slight reduction in absenteeism and resignations
- More time for personal interests and voluntary work
- Reduced urgency for additional time on most tasks
- Extra hours distributed across recreation, care work, and self-care
- Significant decline in stress and burnout levels
- Self-reported improvements in physical and mental health
- Increased physical exercise and decreased fatigue
- Car commuting fell from 56.5% to 52.5%
- Weekly commute duration cut by nearly one hour
- More employees walking, cycling, and choosing eco-friendly products
- 70% would require a 10–50% pay rise to return to 5-day weeks
- 13% said no salary increase would make them go back
- Strong preference retention signal for employers
- Notable decrease in childcare expenses
- Slight increase in men's contribution to childcare
- Trial did not dramatically shift household labour division overall
Pilot Deep-Dive
Phase 1 Trial: Jan – Jun 2022
12 Irish SMEs. 188 employees. Organised by 4 Day Week Ireland, UCD & Boston College. Zero revenue lost — one company grew.
Health & Wellness Outcomes
Trial Details
- Organised by 4 Day Week Ireland, UCD, Boston College
- 12 Irish small & medium enterprises (SMEs)
- 188 employees across all participating companies
- January 2022 – June 2022 (6 months)
- 100:80:100 model — 100% pay, 80% hours, 100% output
- All 12 companies continued with the 4-day model after the trial
OECD Work-Life Balance Score
Ireland scores 7.9/10 on the OECD Better Life Index for work-life balance — placing it among Europe's better-performing nations.
Work Statistics at a Glance
Work Culture
How Ireland Works
Ireland combines European work protections with a strongly flexible, remote-friendly culture — increasingly shaped by tech sector norms.
Working Hours
The average Irish work week is 39 hours, with a legal ceiling of 48 hours averaged over a 4-month reference period. Standard hours are Mon–Fri, 9 AM–5:30 PM, with most businesses pausing for lunch between 12:30 and 2 PM.
Vacation & Leave
- Minimum 20 paid vacation days (4 weeks) per year
- 9 paid public holidays annually
- Employees working public holidays receive extra pay or a day off
- Unused leave can be cashed out upon leaving a role
Part-Time Work
Ireland has a notably high part-time employment rate of 29% of the total workforce — with women (39%) significantly more likely to work part-time than men (21%). The rate fell from 40% between 2020 and 2021 as the economy shifted post-pandemic.
Remote Work: A Post-Pandemic Transformation
Before Covid-19, only 23% of Ireland's workforce had ever worked remotely. That changed dramatically: 80% of employees worked remotely at some point during the pandemic, and 90% of workers aged 35–44 said they want to continue remote work going forward. Ireland's Central Statistics Office data confirms this is now a structural shift, not a temporary one.
Policy & Government
Where Ireland Stands Politically
No national legislation yet — but there's real momentum in union campaigns and commissioned research.
Moderate Government Support
The Irish government has not introduced any formal legislation or backed a state-sponsored pilot. However, it has commissioned independent research into the feasibility of a 4-day work week at a national level. Fórsa, Ireland's largest public sector trade union, is actively campaigning for a structured national trial. The combination of research interest and union pressure suggests the political conversation is still developing — and progressing.