Long before most countries dared to rethink the traditional workweek, Iceland quietly launched an experiment that many believed would never work.
What began as a cautious trial soon became a national shift, one that echoed the hopes Gen Z had long voiced about healthier and more humane careers.
Six years on, the results are not only reassuring but transformative, reshaping how an entire country understands productivity, balance and wellbeing.
And as other nations look on, Iceland’s gamble seems less like a risk and more like a roadmap for the future of work.
Initial concerns that melted away
When the idea of a shorter workweek was first explored, doubts were everywhere. Would services slow down? Would companies struggle to operate with fewer hours? Could productivity survive what looked like a dramatic cut in time? These questions surfaced not only in Iceland but around the world.
But the pilot programme, launched back in 2015 with around one per cent of the national workforce, delivered results that surprised even its supporters. By 2019, the model had expanded so widely that nearly ninety per cent of Icelandic workers had moved to a thirty six hour week, at full pay and without the expectation of packing those hours into fewer but longer days.
To the amazement of sceptics, productivity remained steady in most fields and actually improved in others. Many employees reported lower stress levels and a newfound sense of balance, echoing what younger generations had long argued: happier workers are more effective workers. Organisations such as the World Health Organization have repeatedly highlighted the link between reduced stress and better overall health, and Iceland’s experience brought that relationship into sharp focus.
Technology plays a key role in success
A striking outcome of the new schedule was its impact on gender equality. With shorter weeks, men were more present at home, more involved in childcare and more engaged in domestic responsibilities. Slowly, the rhythm of family life became more evenly shared.
Unlike countries such as Belgium, which offered a four day week only by lengthening remaining workdays, Iceland showed that wages could remain intact without demanding longer shifts. This was achieved thanks to early and heavy investment in digital infrastructure. The country now boasts some of the strongest internet connectivity in the world, even in rural areas, which made remote work smoother and more efficient.
For Gen Z, who grew up navigating life through screens and cloud based tools, this transition was almost seamless. Their familiarity with digital workflows and flexible communication helped workplaces adapt without the turbulence many had feared. Remote collaboration was not a disruption – it was an extension of what they already knew.
A model for the world
Beyond the spreadsheets and productivity charts, the shorter workweek brought a cultural shift. Icelanders found themselves with more time for leisure, community life and family. The reduction in stress levels translated into greater satisfaction both at work and at home.
As activist and teacher María Hjálmtýsdóttir put it, ‘For ninety per cent of us, the thirty six hour week means less stress, more satisfaction and more time to enjoy life.’ Her words reflect a sentiment backed by studies from organisations like the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development, which frequently emphasises the importance of work life balance in long term societal wellbeing.
The ripple effect reached other nations, inspiring pilot projects in Portugal, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. Some countries, like Belgium, experimented with legal changes but found adoption slow due to the requirement of longer days. Iceland’s approach, however, proved that meaningful change does not require stretching workers to their limits.
The shift also reignited political debates within Iceland, particularly around the nation’s relationship with the European Union. As elections approach, citizens are weighing not only economic questions but broader reflections on national identity and future models of work.
What remains clear is that Iceland has demonstrated something powerful: a shorter workweek is not a fantasy. It is a functional, evidence backed alternative that values wellbeing, efficiency, equality and human centred progress.
Generation Z predicted this years ago. Iceland simply showed the world they were right.
