A 4-day work week (4x3 schedule) with no pay cut increases revenue in 86% of companies in Portugal, an economist points out.

A 4-day work week (4×3 schedule) with no pay cut increases revenue in 86% of companies in Portugal, an economist points out.

Written by Andriely Medeiros de Araújo

Published on 30/04/2026 at 11:02

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Report reveals that 41 companies in Portugal that adopted the 4×3 schedule increased revenues and reduced stress.

The reduction of the work week to four days (4×3 schedule), without salary cuts, proved to be a highly effective management strategy for 41 companies in Portugal.

According to economist Pedro Gomes, with the book Friday is the New Saturday, the model is not only viable but has the potential to “save the economy,” benefiting both the private sector and society in general.

The survey indicated that, contrary to common fear, productivity per hour tends to increase, compensating for the shorter working time and raising revenues in 86% of participating companies.

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The financial and organizational impact on companies that adopted the 4×3 schedule in Portugal

Unlike the “economic alarmism” that often arises against reduced hours, the practical results in Portuguese companies that adopted the 4×3 schedule were overwhelmingly positive.

For more than 90% of organizations, the transition did not generate additional financial costs. This success is due to a “deep reorganization” of internal processes, which allowed them to produce more in less time.

Among the main changes and results observed, the following stand out:

Process improvement: Approximately 70% of companies agreed that their internal methods improved after the change.

End of long meetings: The reduction in meeting duration was the most frequent organizational change.

Model continuity: 52% of companies decided to permanently maintain the four-day week.

Flexibility in commerce: Some stores maintained Saturday operations using reduced schedules on slower days, such as Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Reduction in withdrawals: Only 19% of participating companies decided to return to the traditional 5×2 work week.

The leisure economy and GDP growth

One of Pedro Gomes’ central arguments is that employees’ extra free time fuels the consumer economy.

“Workers are also consumers. They are also innovators, they are also citizens, they have students, and therefore, what they do in their free time has an economic impact,” explains the expert, highlighting that leisure encourages industries such as entertainment, culture, and tourism.

Report reveals that 41 companies in Portugal that adopted the 4x3 schedule increased revenues and reduced stress.

He cites the historical example of Henry Ford, who reduced the work week in the USA 100 years ago, which ultimately consolidated the power of Hollywood and the hotel sector.

Furthermore, Gomes refutes the idea that the 4×3 schedule harms national wealth. Analyzing 250 cases of work week reduction through legislation since 1910, Gomes found that the average GDP growth rose from 3.2% to 3.9% after the reforms.

This proves that the increase in productivity per hour amply compensates for fewer working hours.

Companies in Portugal adopt 4×3 schedule: see what changed

Another direct benefit observed in Portuguese companies that adopted the 4×3 schedule was a sharp drop in absenteeism.

With fewer hours worked, employees are absent less often and feel less desire to leave their jobs, reducing turnover.

Especially beneficial for women, as it facilitates the reconciliation of professional and family obligations.

Regarding Brazil, the economist believes that the country has full conditions to reduce the work week to 40 hours and abolish the 6×1 schedule.

He emphasizes that the long time Brazilians spend on daily commutes is an additional reason for the change. As he explains:

“(…) workers will greatly improve their quality of life, will value it highly, and the costs for companies are much lower than they usually argue.”

In this way, the experience of companies in Portugal with the 4×3 schedule serves as evidence that innovation in working hours is a path to a more productive and healthy society.

The move to a 40-hour workweek, already adopted by China in 1995 and by Portugal in 1996, proves to be a necessary step for the modernization of global labor relations.

With information from Agência Brasil

A 4-day work week (4×3 schedule) with no pay cut increases revenue in 86% of companies in Portugal, an economist points out.

Report reveals that 41 companies in Portugal that adopted the 4×3 schedule increased revenues and reduced stress.

The financial and organizational impact on companies that adopted the 4×3 schedule in Portugal

The leisure economy and GDP growth

Companies in Portugal adopt 4×3 schedule: see what changed

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Report reveals that 41 companies in Portugal that adopted the 4×3 schedule increased revenues and reduced stress.

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