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A recent study conducted by Ghent University, in collaboration with IKEA Belgium, has shed new light on the impact of compressed work schedules—where employees work longer hours over fewer days to gain an extra day off—on employee well-being. While the study finds that compressed schedules can help employees psychologically detach from work, it challenges the assumption that these schedules reduce burnout symptoms.
The research, published in BMC Public Health, tracked Belgian IKEA employees over four data collection waves, assessing their psychological detachment from work, work-related exhaustion, and burnout risk before and after they adopted compressed work schedules. These schedules have been touted as a way to address the growing concern of burnout while promoting a better work-life balance.
On the positive side, the findings reveal that employees on compressed schedules experience easier mental breaks and report thinking less about work during their time off. The additional day off, described as a “micro-vacation,” allows workers to recover and engage in personal activities, providing a brief but effective mental reset.
However, the study also highlights a significant limitation: compressed work schedules do not appear to reduce the risk of burnout, a key expectation behind the national labor reform introducing these schedules. According to the researchers, while the additional day off allows employees to recharge, the underlying stressors and demands of the work environment remain unchanged, leaving burnout symptoms largely unaffected.
Louis Lippens, one of the study’s researchers, explained, “The additional day off in a compressed schedule helps employees step away from work concerns temporarily. But once they return to the same work environment, the same pressures and challenges are waiting, meaning that burnout symptoms are not necessarily alleviated.”
The study’s findings suggest that while compressed schedules can provide valuable mental relief in the short term, employers and policymakers should avoid assuming that this strategy alone will prevent burnout. Instead, a more holistic approach is required—one that addresses the broader work environment, such as reducing workload, offering supportive policies, and providing mental health resources.
Kristen du Bois, the lead researcher, emphasized the importance of context. “Offering compressed work schedules can be beneficial for helping employees recover from work by allowing them more time for personal activities. However, it’s crucial that policymakers recognize the limits of these schedules in addressing burnout. A comprehensive approach to workplace well-being must tackle the root causes of stress and burnout within the work environment.”
The study underscores that while compressed schedules can be a valuable tool, they should be seen as just one part of a larger strategy to foster long-term well-being and prevent burnout.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a study conducted by Ghent University in partnership with IKEA Belgium. The findings are intended to provide insight into the effects of compressed work schedules on employee well-being. However, individual outcomes may vary, and the study’s conclusions should not be considered as definitive solutions for addressing workplace burnout.
Reference: Kristen du Bois et al, Time Tetris: a longitudinal study on compressed schedules and workplace well-being at IKEA, BMC Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21323-4.
