In a country that’s known to have one of the hardest working society, workers at Microsoft Japan enjoyed an enviable perk this summer: working four days a week, enjoying a three-day weekend — and getting their normal, five-day paycheck. The result, the company says, was a productivity boost of 40%. Microsoft Japan says it became more efficient in several areas, including lower electricity costs, which fell by 23%. And as its workers took five Fridays off in August, they printed nearly 60 percent fewer pages.

<p>In a country that&rsquo;s known to have one of the hardest working society, workers at Microsoft Japan enjoyed an enviable perk this summer: working four days a week, enjoying a three-day weekend &mdash; and getting their normal, five-day paycheck. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/04/microsoft-japan-four-day-work-week-productivity">The result</a>, the company says, was a productivity boost of 40%. Microsoft Japan says it became more efficient in several areas, including lower electricity costs, which fell by 23%. And as its workers took five Fridays off in August, they printed nearly 60 percent fewer pages.</p>

Helping you navigate the ever-changing universe of business, from headlines to the bottom line

<p>Helping you navigate the ever-changing universe of business, from headlines to the bottom line</p>

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