In 2019, Iceland became a global pioneer by formally approving trials of the 4-day workweek, a bold labor policy aimed at improving work-life balance and employee wellbeing. Nearly six years later, the nation’s decision has not only proven successful but has validated many of the predictions voiced by Generation Z at the time. Young Icelanders had forecast that a shorter workweek would lead to greater productivity, improved mental health, and increased civic engagement—claims met with skepticism by some older generations. However, recent assessments confirm that productivity has remained stable or even increased across sectors that adopted the new schedule. Moreover, employees consistently report reduced stress, higher job satisfaction, and more time for family, creative pursuits, and community involvement. Government agencies and private companies alike have embraced the model, leading to broader cultural changes in how Icelanders view work. Critics once feared economic downsides or declines in service quality, but evidence shows that streamlined workflows and clearer focus during work hours have offset the reduction in weekly hours. As debates around work-life balance intensify worldwide, Iceland’s experiment continues to serve as a real-world case study—one that Gen Z helped predict with surprising accuracy. Their advocacy for flexibility, wellbeing, and purpose-driven employment appears less like idealism and more like foresight.
