IU Study: Majority of Respondents Reject Increased Working Hours

• Nearly three quarters of respondents expect a 48-hour work week to have negative effects on their lives – including, for example, too little time for family and friends or increasing health issues.
• Just under one fifth prefer part-time models; however, full-time work remains the most popular option.
• One third consider the four-day work week to be the model best suited to their personal life situation.
• 83.2 per cent expect the four-day work week to have positive effects on their lives.
• 38.0 per cent of respondents expect the four-day work week to increase productivity on working days.

Erfurt, 5 February 2026. Extension of the working week to 48 hours and the abolition of part-time work without caregiving responsibilities: working time models are currently at the center of the political debate. According to the new representative study by IU International University of Applied Sciences, "Future working time models: longer hours vs quality of life?", 73.5 per cent of respondents state that a 48-hour week would have a "rather negative" or "very negative" impact on their lives.

Among the expected impacts on their own lives, negative aspects predominate:

• "Insufficient time for family and friends" (53.7 per cent),
• "Reduction in personal quality of life" (51.7 per cent),
• "Insufficient time for hobbies, sport, as well as personal projects and to-dos" (49.5 per cent),
• Health concerns such as an "increase in physical problems/illnesses" (46.8 per cent), and
• An "increase in psychological problems/illnesses" (43.5 per cent).

Furthermore, a further 38.2 per cent expect to have "insufficient time for care work (e.g. housework, childcare, caring for relatives)" due to a 48-hour week.

Only at position 11, with 16.7 per cent, is the first positive aspect mentioned: the "possibility of responding to spontaneously increased workload". This is followed by "more flexibility in working hours" with 15.0 per cent. Moreover, one in twelve (8.2 per cent) states that they could fulfil their "wish to advance the economic situation through increased work" through the 48-hour week.

Negative effects are also expected with regard to work quality:

• 42.9 percent fear an "increased risk of errors due to declining concentration and performance."
• 33.6 percent see a "reduction in productivity at work."

Additionally, 84.8 per cent agree completely or somewhat with the statement: "A daily working time of up to twelve hours on individual days within a maximum 48-hour week would lead to more errors, as concentration and performance decline throughout the day."

"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," says Malte Martensen, Professor of General Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources Management and Organisation at IU International University of Applied Sciences, interpreting the results.

Full-time work remains popular, as does the 4-day week

When asked which working time model best suits their own life situation, 44.7 per cent cite the classic full-time model with 35 to 40 hours per week.

The 4-day week comes in second place with 33.9 per cent – a model with 32 hours over four days at full salary and full-time requirements for work output.

Just under one fifth of respondents (18.5 per cent) prefer a traditional part-time position with fewer than 35 hours per week.

4-day week: One-third expects increased productivity

In line with the above-mentioned preference for the 4-day week, 83.2 per cent of people who work 32 hours or more assess the impact of this model on their lives as "very positive" or "rather positive". It is important to note here that 8.5 per cent stated that the model is not feasible in their profession.

Regarding the expected impacts on their own lives, positive aspects dominate: "More time for family and friends" is mentioned most frequently (59.5 per cent). This is followed by "More time for hobbies, sport, personal projects/to-dos" at 56.1 per cent, "More rest in one go" at 54.8 per cent, and "Increase in personal quality of life and satisfaction through an additional day off" at 53.8 per cent.

A professional advantage is also expected: "Increasing productivity on working days" is mentioned by 38.0 per cent of respondents.

Further 16.7 per cent of respondents fear that pressure will increase to complete tasks in the shorter time. One in ten (10 per cent) sees a risk of errors due to declining concentration. It is also interesting to note that one per cent already work in the 4-day model.

"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," says Martensen.

¹ Definition: 4-day week: 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.

² Definition: 48-hour week: 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.

About the study

The study "Future working time models: longer hours vs quality of life?" by IU International University of Applied Sciences examines how employees in Germany assess different working time models – particularly against the background of the current political debate about a possible extension of the maximum weekly working hours. The focus is on the expected effects of a 48-hour week as well as an alternative full-time model of the 4-day week on quality of life, health and productivity. For the study, 2,000 employees in Germany aged 16 to 65 were surveyed. The sample is representative of the German labour market by age and gender. The survey was conducted between 10 November and 16 November 2025.

The complete study is available at: https://www.iu.de/en/research/studies/future-working-time-models/