A two-year experiment involving 25,000 Microsoft employees in Japan shows that meetings can be a waste of time. The study tracked the impact of a four-day workweek, finding that productivity increased by 40% when Friday meetings were eliminated. This outcome suggests that fewer meetings can lead to more effective work.

The experiment also revealed that the length of meetings impacts productivity. When meetings were capped at 30 minutes, employees were more focused and efficient. This finding indicates that shorter meetings can foster a more productive work environment.

In addition to productivity, employee well-being was also considered. The study found that a shorter workweek and fewer meetings improved employee satisfaction and reduced stress levels. This result implies that changes to the traditional workweek could benefit employee mental health.

Despite these findings, the implementation of a four-day workweek and shorter meetings is not without challenges. Issues such as client expectations, project deadlines, and team coordination can complicate the transition. Nonetheless, the experiment underscores the potential benefits of rethinking traditional work practices.

Go to source article: https://www.newstatesman.com/business/work/2022/03/a-two-year-25000-employee-experiment-confirms-it-meetings-are-a-waste-of-time