Ukraine’s YouScan reintroduces four-day summer workweek for well-being
KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukrainian tech company YouScan is once again reducing its workweek to four days for the summer months, a decision that’s now a seasonal tradition for the third year.
The approach, first adopted in 2023 as a response to burnout and wartime stress, has proven so popular that employees now request its return each year. Currently, YouScan employs 78 people, over two-thirds of whom are based in Ukraine.
“We don’t have metrics that would show a direct connection between 4-days and productivity,” said Halyna Marchuk, Chief People Officer at YouScan.
“According to internal surveys, about half of our colleagues said that productivity had increased, the other half said that it had remained the same, and only a few said that productivity had decreased.”
Despite the lack of a direct productivity boost, the company’s business results remain strong, with sales plans and customer satisfaction scores holding steady.
Mental health and well-being take center stage
“What exactly does the 4-day retreat affect ? The team’s well-being and happiness level,” adds Marchuk.
“I haven’t heard any negative feedback, but the team always mentions the 4-day retreat among its favorite benefits, claiming that it has a very positive effect on mental health, allows for better recovery and more time outdoors in the warm season.”
YouScan’s internal surveys consistently rank the shortened week as one of the most valuable perks, with employees reporting improved health, faster recovery, and the chance to enjoy summer activities.
The company does not use special tools to manage the shorter week; instead, it relies on a culture of flexibility and team-based planning.
Flexible planning drives productivity and satisfaction
Marchuk explains that the company’s flexible scheduling allows teams to manage their own workloads.
“In fact, we always have a flexible schedule, and there is freedom when colleagues choose how to distribute tasks throughout the week, when to rest, when to speed up and push harder. And it is this combination of freedom and responsibility that really helps us maintain productivity at a high level,” says Marchuk.
While the pace of work can become more intense during the shorter week, the extra day off provides valuable rest.
Despite the benefits, YouScan is not planning to make the four-day workweek permanent—at least for now. The company’s experience mirrors that of other Ukrainian firms, such as Dnipro-based You are launched, which also reports improved mental health and stable productivity with a reduced workweek.
