Rachel was a marketing director at a mid-sized agency. She was good at her job—really good. But she was also exhausted. Burned out. Running on fumes and caffeine.
Every Sunday evening, she’d get that familiar knot in her stomach. The dread of Monday morning. The endless Slack notifications. The meetings that could have been emails. The “urgent” requests that weren’t actually urgent.
Then she found it.
A company offering a four-day work week. Full pay. Same benefits. Just… one less day of chaos.
She applied. She got the job. And her life changed.
Now she works Tuesday through Friday. Every weekend is a three-day weekend. She sleeps better. She exercises more. She actually has time for hobbies—and friends—and life.
And here’s the kicker: she’s more productive now than she ever was working five days.
Here is the truth that companies are finally waking up to:
The five-day work week is obsolete. It was designed for factory workers in the Industrial Revolution—not for knowledge workers in 2026.
Study after study proves it:
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92% of UK companies that trialed a four-day week continued the policy afterward
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71% of employees reported lower levels of burnout
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65% reduction in sick days
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57% fall in staff leaving participating companies
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Revenue increased by an average of 1.4% during trials
The data is clear. Shorter weeks = happier employees = better business outcomes.
And right now, in July 2026, hundreds of companies are actively hiring for four-day week roles.
This is your chance to join the movement.
The 19 Companies (And Exactly How to Get In)
Here are 19 businesses paying 100% salary for 80% hours—with active job openings right now.
1. Buffer — Social Media Management
Salary: $157,000 – $224,000 + equity
The Role: Buffer is one of the pioneers of the four-day work week. They’ve built their entire culture around remote work and reduced hours. Currently hiring for Senior Backend Engineer, Senior Developer Advocate, and Senior Growth Engineer.
Why It Works: Buffer offers a “Flexi-Week” model—four flexible days at full pay, with the fifth day available for overflow tasks or personal time.
Insider Tip: Buffer is fully remote and values transparency. They publish their salaries publicly. If you’re applying, emphasize your ability to work asynchronously across time zones.
Apply: buffer.com/journey
2. Kickstarter — Crowdfunding Platform
Salary: Varies by role (competitive tech salaries)
The Role: The crowdfunding giant operates with a fully remote team and a four-day, 32-hour workweek. CEO Everette Taylor has been vocal about the model, telling The New York Times that he wants to “show empathy” in a world where CEOs are demanding return-to-office.
Why It Works: Kickstarter believes that “our best work emerges when we have the time and space to lead fulfilling lives outside of the office”.
Insider Tip: They’re currently hiring for Creator Success Specialist, Lead of Community Support, and other roles. Show them you understand the creative economy.
Apply: jobs.kickstarter.com
3. Basecamp — Project Management Software
Salary: Competitive (varies by role)
The Role: A true pioneer in the four-day work week movement. Basecamp offers a 32-hour week (four days) from May through August every year, with standard 40-hour weeks the rest of the year.
Why It Works: They’ve been doing remote work for decades and understand that productivity isn’t about hours—it’s about focus.
Insider Tip: Basecamp hires for roles like Data Analyst and Email Marketing Manager. They value clear communication and asynchronous work.
Apply: basecamp.com/about/careers
4. DuckDuckGo — Privacy-Focused Search Engine
Salary: Competitive tech salaries
The Role: Fully remote team distributed globally with a flexible, self-managed schedule. While they don’t strictly enforce a four-day week, they offer “reduced hours” with no core hours and complete flexibility.
Why It Works: DuckDuckGo trusts its employees to manage their own time. The result? High autonomy, high ownership, high satisfaction.
Insider Tip: They’re hiring for Engineering Director (Backend), Senior Software Engineer, and Senior Privacy Engineer. If you value privacy and autonomy, this is your company.
Apply: duckduckgo.com/hiring
5. Wildbit — Web Software
Salary: Competitive + profit sharing
The Role: Wildbit transitioned to a four-day, 32-hour work week in 2017—long before it was trendy. Every Friday is off. Employees get 20 paid days off per year, plus profit sharing.
Why It Works: They’ve been doing remote work for 15 years and have perfected the art of asynchronous collaboration.
Insider Tip: Wildbit offers a home office stipend, professional development budget, and annual team retreats. They’re a small team (under 30 people), so every hire matters.
Apply: wildbit.com/jobs
6. YNAB (You Need A Budget) — Personal Finance Software
Salary: Competitive + 100% health insurance premium coverage
The Role: YNAB has adopted a four-day work week and “rarely work more than that”. They offer fully remote work with flexible scheduling.
Why It Works: YNAB practices what it preaches—financial peace of mind for employees, not just customers.
Insider Tip: They’re currently hiring for a Data Analyst role. Benefits include three weeks of vacation, 100% health insurance coverage, and a professional development stipend.
Apply: ynab.com/careers
7. thredUP — Online Resale Marketplace
Salary: Competitive + stock purchase plan
The Role: thredUP offers a four-day work week with Fridays off for many salaried corporate roles. They also offer flexible PTO, 13 paid holidays, and a sabbatical after three years.
Why It Works: The four-day model has been in place for several years, and they’ve seen strong internal mobility and retention as a result.
Insider Tip: They’re hiring for a Senior Financial Analyst and Senior Full-stack Software Engineer. Hybrid work model: 3 days in office, 1 day remote.
Apply: thredup.com/careers
8. Bolt — Fintech/Payment Company
Salary: Competitive (remote-first)
The Role: Bolt is a remote-first payment company offering a four-day work week. They’re hiring for customer support, operations, tech, and partnerships roles.
Why It Works: Bolt understands that fintech moves fast—but burnout moves faster. The four-day week keeps teams fresh and focused.
Insider Tip: Check their careers page regularly—roles fill fast.
Apply: bolt.com/careers
9. Atom Bank — Digital Banking
Salary: Competitive banking salaries
The Role: Atom Bank is one of the UK’s most prominent four-day week adopters. They offer full pay for a four-day week across the organization.
Why It Works: In a high-pressure industry like banking, Atom Bank proves you don’t need to grind 24/7 to succeed.
Insider Tip: Based in the UK, they’re part of the 253+ UK companies now offering four-day weeks.
Apply: atom-bank.com/careers
10. Awin — Marketing
Salary: Competitive marketing salaries
The Role: Awin is a global affiliate marketing network that has adopted the four-day work week.
Why It Works: Marketing is creative work—and creativity needs rest. Awin understands that.
Insider Tip: They have offices across Europe and the US. Check their careers page for current openings.
Apply: awin.com/careers
11. Duolingo — Education Technology
Salary: Competitive tech salaries
The Role: The language-learning app with 500+ million users implemented a four-day work week for its entire team.
Why It Works: Duolingo proves that even high-growth, consumer-facing tech companies can thrive with shorter weeks.
Insider Tip: They offer a true 32-hour work week (Monday-Thursday) with full benefits and remote-friendly positions.
Apply: duolingo.com/careers
12. 37signals — Software Company
Salary: Competitive tech salaries
The Role: The company behind Basecamp offers a 4-day work week (32 hours) from May 1 to August 31 every year.
Why It Works: Seasonal four-day weeks give employees something to look forward to—and a reason to stay.
Insider Tip: They’re the OGs of remote work. If you can get in, you’re set.
Apply: 37signals.com/careers
13. Cycloid — Platform Engineering
Salary: Competitive European tech salaries
The Role: Cycloid is a platform engineering solutions provider with a 100% remote team across Europe and a 4-day workweek.
Why It Works: DevOps and platform engineering are high-stress roles. Cycloid reduces the stress by reducing the hours.
Insider Tip: They have 3 open positions currently. Small team (11 employees), so you’ll have real impact.
Apply: cycloid.io/careers
14. Form3 — Payments Technology
Salary: Competitive fintech salaries
The Role: Cloud-native payments technology provider transforming financial infrastructure with real-time Payments-as-a-Service solutions.
Why It Works: Financial infrastructure is 24/7—but that doesn’t mean engineers should be. Form3 proves you can build critical systems without burning out teams.
Insider Tip: They have 3 open positions with a 4-day work week (80%) and fully remote work.
Apply: form3.com/careers
15. Ecosia — Search Engine
Salary: Competitive + mission-driven
The Role: The search engine that plants trees with ad revenue. 20M+ users have helped plant 150M+ trees worldwide.
Why It Works: Ecosia offers a 4-day work week (80%) with hybrid work and 32 hours per week.
Insider Tip: They have 2 open positions currently. If you care about climate change and want to work for a mission-driven company, this is it.
Apply: ecosia.com/careers
16. Phoenix Group — Retirement & Savings
Salary: Competitive FTSE-100 salaries
The Role: The UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business—FTSE-100 parent of Standard Life, Phoenix Life, ReAssure, and SunLife.
Why It Works: Even traditional industries like finance are adopting the four-day week. If Phoenix Group can do it, anyone can.
Insider Tip: They have 22 open positions with a 4-day work week (80%) and hybrid work.
Apply: phoenixgroup.com/careers
17. Thales — Aerospace & Defense
Salary: Competitive global tech salaries
The Role: Global technology leader in aerospace, defense, and security, creating safer, greener, and more inclusive solutions across 68 countries with 80,000+ employees.
Why It Works: If a massive defense contractor can offer a four-day week, the excuse of “it won’t work in our industry” is officially dead.
Insider Tip: They have 19 open positions with a 4-day work week (80%) and hybrid work.
Apply: thales.com/careers
18. Cancer Research UK — Charity
Salary: Competitive charity sector + benefits
The Role: The world’s largest independent cancer-research charity. UK head office in London plus institutes in Glasgow, Cambridge, and London.
Why It Works: Even non-profits are realizing that burnout kills mission—and they’re adopting four-day weeks to protect their people.
Insider Tip: They have 3 open positions with a 4-day work week (80%) and hybrid work.
Apply: cancerresearchuk.org/careers
19. 25hours Hotels — Hospitality
Salary: Competitive hospitality salaries
The Role: 25hours Hotels offers a unique model: “Only work 4 days a week as a full-time team member without payment or holiday reduction”.
Why It Works: If hotels can do it, any industry can. Hospitality is notoriously demanding—and 25hours proves there’s a better way.
Insider Tip: They also offer free stays at their hotels for up to 10 nights per year as an employee perk.
Apply: 25hours-hotels.com/careers
Honorable Mentions
These companies also offer four-day weeks and are worth watching:
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3D Issue (Digital) — Part of the 253 UK companies
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448 Studio (Media) — Four-day week accredited
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5 Squirrels Ltd (Manufacturing)
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64 Million Artists (Creative Industries)
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Big Potato Games (Gaming)
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Close (CRM Software) — Bootstrapped CRM with 4-day week option since 2016
How to Land a Four-Day Week Job
Here is the step-by-step playbook:
Step 1: Update Your Resume
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Highlight efficiency, not hours. Four-day week companies care about output, not time.
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Show metrics: “Increased revenue by X%” or “Reduced downtime by Y%”
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Mention remote work experience—these companies are often distributed teams
Step 2: Tailor Your Cover Letter
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Acknowledge the model: “I’m excited about your four-day week because I value focus and efficiency”
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Show you understand asynchronous work: “I’ve worked across time zones and know how to communicate clearly without constant meetings”
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Prove you’re self-motivated: “I don’t need someone watching over my shoulder to get things done”
Step 3: Prepare for the Interview
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Expect questions about autonomy: “How do you manage your time without direct supervision?”
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Be ready to discuss productivity: “Here’s how I structure my week to maximize output in fewer hours”
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Show cultural fit: These companies value trust, ownership, and work-life balance
Step 4: Use the Right Job Boards
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4dayweek.io — 5,028+ open positions at companies offering four-day weeks
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4DayJob.com — 114+ actively hiring companies
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LinkedIn — Search “4-day work week” or “four-day week” in job descriptions
The Bottom Line
The four-day work week is no longer a fringe experiment. It’s a competitive advantage. Companies are using it to attract top talent—and they’re hiring right now.
If you’re tired of the 9-to-5 grind, if you’re burned out, if you want your weekends back—this is your moment.
Apply to one of these 19 companies today. Your three-day weekend is waiting.
Are you already working a four-day week? I want to hear about it. Drop a comment below!