Microsoft Tests 4-Day Workweek and Productivity Increases 40% The company’s Japan offices <br />closed every Friday in August <br />during a summer program called <br />the “Work Life Choice Challenge.” Managers also encouraged employees to limit time spent in meetings and responding to emails. Compared to the same period <br />of the previous year, productivity, <br />which was measured by sales per <br />employee, increased by 40%. In addition to boosted productivity, <br />the company was able to save on <br />other resources, particularly electricity. Microsoft plans to conduct another <br />experiment in Japan later this year <br />in an effort to improve work-life <br />balance and efficiency.
