worka holics. we work more hours, and work a whopping 42 days more than the germans do each year, and while americans are among the most productive workers, more working hours does not necessarily mean more productivity. the reality is one reason why more companies are experimenting with a 4-day work week. some of them find the viewers hours add up to more efficiency, loyalty and productivity, which has them saying thank god it's thursday. >> reporter: it's thursday at the online education tech company tree house in portland oregon. for most companies, it doesn't mean anything special. here thursdays are really fridays. tree house has a 4-day work week. >> wednesday comes around and you start to panic. tomorrow is the end of the week. i've got to get stuff down. >> reporter: c.e.o. ryan and his wife jill decided to work 4-day work weeks while launching a tech start up in 2004. when they began tree house in 2006, he decided to keep the tradition. >> if everyone says you can't work less, let's prove