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4-day work week: will it work in Singapore?

Writer: NUS Human Capital SocietyNUS Human Capital Society
Oct 28, 20223 min read


50 Days of Extra Holiday?

Some countries have started the 4-day work week, which equates to a 3-day weekend every week. By estimation, there will be around 50 more rest days as compared to the current 5-day work week. However, is such a luring holiday realistic in Singapore?


Singaporeans are in favour of this 4-day work week due to our typically demanding workload and work-related exhaustion. A survey conducted by Indeed found about 88%, or more than four out of five Singaporean employees, advocated the push for a four-day workweek with the same pay. Furthermore, Singapore stood at number 32 on the list for work-life balance, putting the city in the bottom ten of the 40-city ranking. This puts us alongside other Asian cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo.


The 4-day work week has also received an approving nod from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who stressed the importance of work-life balance in his National Day Rally speech close to two decades ago in 2004: “…I think we need a better work-life balance. Apart from high expectations being the reason why young people don’t get married, another reason is they are simply too busy… No time to go out, socialise, or make friends. I think we are working longer hours. …I am not sure why, but hours have become longer, the pace is more intense.”. Admittedly, it is hard to hide our disappointment that such conditions are still present in 2022.

Before dreaming of an extra rest day per week, let us take a closer look at the two sides of a 4-day work week. For the ease of our readers, we have compiled a list of pros and cons below.


Some countries have implemented this system — the four-day workweek has recently received a notable boost when Spain announced a pilot project for employers interested in a trial run of the concept. Companies in other countries, including Japan and New Zealand, have also tested four-day workweeks.

These are the pros of a 4-day work week:

1. More time for personal matters

Workers can use the extra day to be with family and friends or upgrade themselves.

2. Increased efficiency and productivity

Microsoft Japan tested a four-day work week and productivity jumped by 40% while significantly lowering operating costs such as paper and electricity consumption.


3. Saves money and less stress on commuting

Working fewer days means less money and time spent on commuting. This will reduce employees’ expenditure and reduce stress.


4. Promote mental well-being

Overworking takes a toll on mental health which may lead to problems with physical health caused by higher stress levels. A three-day weekend can support a healthier work style and maintain a better work-life balance.


On the other hand, a 4-day work week also yields the following negatives:


1. Not feasible in some industries

Not every sector or company is suitable to adopt a four-day work system. For example, the service industry requires manpower throughout the week to support operations, or else public convenience may be sacrificed.

Food for thought: General retail shops in Western Australia (an Australian state) close at 5pm on weekends and during Public Holidays. Should Singapore practise the same?


2. Less time to finish allocated tasks

Employees working to deliver complex or urgent projects may perceive one less working day as a disadvantage —they would have to rush their work in a shorter time given. This may result in employees working overtime throughout the four days, which defeats the main objective of allowing more rest time.


Any resultant delays in projects may lead to negative business outcomes, and angry clients and customers, which tarnishes the reputation of businesses.


Food for thought: Does one less work day mean less work to complete? Eventually, the success of the four-day work week is largely dependent on companies adjusting the workload for employees and to maintain the quality of work produced even with one less work day.


3. Challenging alignment across sectors

If some industries adopt a four-day work system while others do not, it would be difficult to coordinate the logistics for planners, resulting in inefficiency.


Overall, a 4-day work week can be considered a double-edged sword. To enjoy more rest days, sacrifices in other aspects, both visible and unseen, must be made. We all desire a work-life balance; however, can we achieve that simply by reducing working days?


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