Ukrainian entrepreneurs generally positively evaluate the idea of introducing a four-day work week. Such were the results fixed in the July study “Barometer of business”, conducted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine.
This is a format in which employees work 40 hours a week, but these hours are spread over four days — subject to agreement between the employee and the employer. The Chamber noted that the majority of business participants supported this approach, considering it promising.
In July 2025, the general index of Ukrainian business expectations increased by 1.5 points and reached -12.4. Although the index continues to remain in the negative zone, analysts note a gradual recovery of business optimism. This is especially noticeable against the background of previous months, when pessimistic sentiments prevailed much stronger.
Construction became the only industry where business expectations entered the positive zone: the index rose to 6.7 points — also 1.5 more than in June. At the same time, industry, trade and services remain mostly pessimistic, albeit with signs of improvement.
Regardless of the scale of the business – micro, small, medium or large – in all categories, expectations remain negative, but with positive dynamics. In particular, the level of pessimism among all types of companies is decreasing. Exporters remain the most cautious group: their evaluation index is -14.5, although it also shows an improvement of 1.8 points.
We will remind, at the beginning of 2025, 200 British companies introduced a four-day working week for all their employees on a permanent basis, without reducing wages. Among them are companies from the technological, marketing and charity sectors, which in total employ more than 5 thousand people.
