IU Study 2026 | Executive Summary
48-hour week or 4 days full-time: what employees want
When politicians and business leaders debate new working models, differing demands and expectations clash. The 48-hour work week planned by the German federal government is currently in the spotlight.
Maximum working hours, flexible working hours and the 12-hour day: these are the terms that the current debate on the 48-hour week revolves around. As part of a reform of the Working Hours Act, the German federal government plans to make working hours more flexible, as set out in the coalition agreement. In future, a maximum weekly working time will apply instead of a maximum daily working time. Working days of up to 12 hours could then be offset by a correspondingly shorter number of working hours on other days.
IU’s representative study gives employees in Germany a chance to have their say. The findings: many respondents are concerned about the negative effects of the 48-hour work week, such as less free time and a higher workload. On the other hand, the majority believe that a 4-day week would have a positive impact on their quality of life, satisfaction and productivity. These results are consistent with the essence of the 4-day model: a deliberately streamlined and efficiently organised way of working.
Prof. Dr Malte Martensen, Professor of General Business Administration specialising in Human Resource Management and Organisation at IU International University of Applied Sciences, summarises the discussion surrounding working models: “The key question is not whether we work more or less, but how we can make work future-proof.”
What do the terms mean?
48-hour week: definition
The 48-hour week outlined in the coalition agreement refers to a working time model in which the maximum daily working time currently applicable in Germany (usually 8 hours per day or, at times, up to 10 hours per day) is to be replaced by a weekly upper limit.
Employees could then work, up to 48 hours per week, and up to 12 hours or more on individual days, for example, provided they work correspondingly fewer hours on other days. Salaries stay the same, as long as the contractually agreed working hours are not increased.
4-day week: definition
The 4-day week describes a working time model in which employees work 32 hours per week, but receive full pay and meet all work performance requirements. This model allows work tasks to be spread over 4 days, while the fifth day can be used for recreation, family, hobbies, voluntary work, etc.
Many companies have tested or are currently testing the 4-day week as a pilot project to evaluate its effects on productivity, employee satisfaction and work-life balance.
Key Facts
Modern working time models: key findings of the study
Working full-time is the most popular working time model.
44.7 %
of employees in Germany state that the traditional full-time model with 35 to 40 hours per week best suits their situation in life.
48-hour week: many fear negative effects
73.5 %
of the respondents who currently work 35 hours or more per week believe that a 48-hour week would have a negative impact on their lives.
Less concentration and more mistakes due to 12-hour days
84.8 %
of the respondents who work full-time completely agree or tend to agree that working up to 12 hours a day would reduce their concentration and lead to more mistakes.
4-day week: a majority have a positive view of the full-time option
83.2 %
of the respondents who currently work 32 hours per week or more believe that a four-day week with full-time entitlement would have a positive impact on their lives.
Working full-time is the most popular working time model.
44.7 %
of employees in Germany state that the traditional full-time model with 35 to 40 hours per week best suits their situation in life.
48-hour week: many fear negative effects
73.5 %
of the respondents who currently work 35 hours or more per week believe that a 48-hour week would have a negative impact on their lives.
Less concentration and more mistakes due to 12-hour days
84.8 %
of the respondents who work full-time completely agree or tend to agree that working up to 12 hours a day would reduce their concentration and lead to more mistakes.
4-day week: a majority have a positive view of the full-time option
83.2 %
of the respondents who currently work 32 hours per week or more believe that a four-day week with full-time entitlement would have a positive impact on their lives.
There may be marginal deviations in the results due to rounding off.
Battle of the models: full-time is ahead of part-time
The traditional full-time model with 35 to 40 hours per week is the first choice for 44.7% of employees in Germany. According to the respondents, it best suits their current work-life balance and financial situation (regardless of how much they actually work at present).
The 4-day week takes second place: 33.9% are in favour of the full-time option with 32 hours per week, full pay and a full range of duties. Less than a fifth of the respondents said they would prefer a traditional part-time job with fewer than 35 hours per week.
Traditional part-time model (less than 35 hours per week)
18.5 %
Traditional full-time model (35–40 hours per week)
44.7 %
4-day week (32 hours per week) with full salary and full-time requirements for work performance
33.9 %
Other working time model
2.9 %
Question: Irrespective of the working time model currently in place at your workplace, which of the following working time models would best suit your current situation (work, private life and financial situation)?
Focus
48-hour week? The majority say “No, thanks”
73.5% fear negative effects
Almost three-quarters of employees in Germany in traditional full-time employment believe that a statutory maximum working week of up to 48 hours would have a very or fairly negative impact on their lives. Only about one in four believes it will have a positive impact.
Question: In what way do you think a maximum 48-hour working week would affect your life?
Only respondents who currently work 35 hours per week or more
Potential consequences of the 48-hour week: less time, many problems
Respondents most frequently cited the following concerns about a 48-hour working week: too little time for family, friends and hobbies, reduced quality of life, and the risk of physical or mental health problems. According to the IU study, other factors such as an increased risk of errors due to declining concentration or insufficient time for domestic duties are also reasons against a maximum weekly working time of 48 hours.
Positive aspects, such as the ability to respond spontaneously to an increased workload thanks to the 48-hour week, to organise working hours flexibly or to complete projects more quickly, only appear in eleventh place among the possible effects mentioned.
Question: In your opinion, what aspects of your life would be affected by a 48-hour maximum working week?
Only respondents who currently work 35 hours per week or more
Longer working hours = more mistakes
Do flexible working hours increase the risk of errors? Yes, according to more than 8 out of 10 full-time employees.
Question: To what extent do you agree with the following statement?
Only the answers “completely agree” and “tend to agree” on a scale of 1 to 4; only respondents who currently work 35 hours per week or more
The key question is not whether we work more or less, but how we can make work future-proof. Longer working hours have been shown to increase errors – more hours do not automatically mean greater productivity. The results clearly show that an extension of working hours would be rejected. Therefore, more efficient processes, a modern work culture and flexible models that meet economic requirements while also taking into account professional and private life and physical and mental health are more important for future viability.”
Prof. Dr Malte Martensen
Professor of General Business Administration specialising in Human Resource Management and Organisation at IU International University of Applied Sciences
4-day week comparison: advantages, disadvantages, effects
The 4-day week is a modern full-time model which is already being tested in pilot projects in Germany. Unlike the 48-hour week, its point is not to increase weekly working hours, but rather to reduce working time to four days and 32 hours – with full pay. This is made possible, in part, by leaner processes for greater productivity. What do employees think of this concept?
Strong support for the 4-day week as a full-time model
The results are clear: 83.2% of the respondents (who currently work 32 hours per week or more) believe that a four-day week with full-time entitlement would have a very or fairly positive impact on their lives. In comparison: only 26.5% of the full-time employees surveyed say this about the 48-hour week.
Question: In what way do you think a 4-day week of 32 hours with full pay and full-time performance requirements would affect your life?
Only respondents who currently work 32 hours per week or more
*32 hours with full pay and full-time requirements for work performance.
High hopes for improved quality of life and productivity
In contrast to the 48-hour week, respondents cite mainly positive aspects when it comes to the 4-day week: more time for family and friends, more time for hobbies and longer recreation periods are the most frequently mentioned effects of a shorter working week on their lives.
The majority of the respondents also believe that the additional day off will improve their personal quality of life and satisfaction. Over a third also think there’s a chance for greater productivity on workdays.
Question: In your opinion, which aspects of a 4-day week of 32 hours with full pay and full-time performance requirements would have the greatest impact on your life?
Only respondents who currently work 32 hours per week or more
The results of the study clearly show that the majority of the respondents would prefer shorter working hours. Models such as the 4-day week are viewed particularly positively, as they allow more time for family, leisure or important voluntary work. This is accompanied by increased productivity on working days. These findings can provide guidance when it comes to designing working time models that are fit for the future.”
Prof. Dr Malte Martensen
Professor of General Business Administration specialising in Human Resource Management and Organisation at IU International University of Applied Sciences
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