Switching to a four-day working week leads to happier employees who are more productive and take fewer sick days, a new report has found.
Advice Direct Scotland concluded that business-related improvements at the organisation were "a direct result of increases in employee wellbeing".
The Glasgow-based charity was one of the first large employers in the country to reduce its working week from five days to four with staff still earning the same wage.
Workers do not all take the same day off to ensure Advice Direct can still provide services from Monday to Friday.
It switched to a four day working week in 2019 and has now completed a review of how the system is working three years on.
The charity found a 71 per cent fall in employee absences since 2017, while the average number of absent days fell by 55 per cent.
The rate of workers leaving the organisation dropped by around a third, while a high standard of applicants over the period was recorded - with surveys showing that a better work-life balance was a "decisive factor" in their decision to apply.
Dozens of companies have moved to a four-day working week in several sectors in recent months, with trials taking place across the UK.
The Scottish Government has launched a £10million fund for pilots and is committed to developing a comprehensive design over the next year.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) backs the idea and think-tank IPPR Scotland conducted research which found that eight out of 10 Scots would support the introduction of a four-day working week.
Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: "More workers and employers are recognising the importance of positive wellbeing, and a four-day week is a fantastic way to achieve this.
"Following consultation and feedback processes, nearly all of our staff have reported experiencing both a reduction in their work-related stress and a marked increase in their enjoyment of work-related activities.
"Crucially, employees are not the only beneficiaries of the four-day week.
"Employers stand to gain significantly from the implementation of the shorter week given the clear evidence of increased employee productivity.
"Since introducing our new model in 2018, the four-day working week has cultivated a host of impressive business improvements and growth across our organisation."
STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: "As we emerge from the pandemic, we have to prioritise the wellbeing and protection of workers. It’s not good enough to return to outdated methods of work when technology and decent employment practices has shown a different work/life dynamic.
"This is an evidence-led, inclusive policy that, if implemented correctly with no loss of pay or conditions, can benefit both workers and employers."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Scotland’s businesses and workers have adapted to the Covid-related workplace challenges in ways that sustain their businesses and support employee welfare.
“As we recover from the pandemic, we want to do more to help people achieve a healthy work-life balance. As part of this, we are committed to establishing a £10 million fund to allow companies to pilot and explore the benefits of a four-day working week. We are working on the design of the pilot and an announcement will be made in due course.
“The length of the working week is one aspect of a broader set of measures about how we rebuild the economy in a way that benefits everyone.”
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