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The 4-Day Workweek Under the Microscope: Between Hype and Scientific Evidence

April 10, 2026

The debate over the 4-day workweek is nothing new—it was already considered a potential standard during the oil crisis of the 1970s. Today, in the context of “New Work” and demographic change, the model is making a remarkable comeback. But does the reality live up to what the headlines promise?

As part of an online guest lecture for the master’s program in Business Administration & Business Psychology, expert Dr. Arabella Mühl will examine the topic from an in-depth perspective of industrial and organizational psychology.

Key topics of the presentation:

  • Differentiation of Models: From Wage Compensation to Compressed Work Weeks.
  • Employee Health: Effects on Performance and Psychological Stress.
  • Work-Life Blending: Opportunities for Rest vs. Risks Posed by Increased Workload.
  • Practical Assessment: Critical reflection on feasibility in companies.

About the Speaker

Dr. Arabella Mühl, BSc, BA, MSc, conducts research at the Institute for Work, Economic, and Social Psychology at the University of Vienna and at the Vienna University of Technology. Her research focuses on modern work-time models, hybrid teams, and psychological stress in the workplace. At FERNFH, she serves as an advisor to students working on their master’s theses.

Moderator: Dr. Julia Schöllbauer, BSc, MSc (Program and Course Director for BPS604 – New Work & Social Sustainability).
 

"It's not just about the number of days, but about the quality of the program and the psychological impact on the team."

Dr. Arabella Mühl, BSc, BA, MSc, is a faculty member at the Institute for Work, Business, and Social Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Vienna, as well as at the Institute for Management Sciences at the Vienna University of Technology. Her research focuses on psychological stress in the workplace, location and time flexibility, modern work (and work-time) models, and collaboration in hybrid teams. At FERNFH, she supervises theses in the master’s program in Business Administration & Business Psychology.

Program & Details

  • Discussion: Q&A with the audience
  • Welcome & Introduction: Dr. Julia Schöllbauer
  • Keynote Speaker: Dr. Arabella Mühl

Note: This video is a recording of the live event held on [insert date]. If you have any questions about the degree program or future presentations, please contact wpma@fernfh.ac.at.

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