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#4dayworkweek Less Is More
UNITED KINGDOM
A majority of the companies in the United Kingdom that participated in the world’s largest four-day working week trial have retained the policy, according to a study published this month, highlighting the model’s long-term benefits, the Guardian reported.

Sixty-one companies took part in the pilot from June to December 2022. One year after the trial program ended, nearly 90 percent still operate on a four-day weekly schedule, while half have already decided to make it permanent.

The study – conducted by the think tank Autonomy with researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Salford, and Boston College – also analyzed the effects of a four-day week on companies and their staff, with mostly positive results, according to 55 percent of executives.

With 82 percent reporting improvements in staff well-being, nearly half said it resulted in increased productivity. The researchers added that “burnout and life satisfaction improvements held steady” with better work-life balance.

The pilot aimed at having the same level of work output with 20 percent less working time. On average, participating companies had a rhythm of 31.6 hours per week. They could choose to either grant employees a universal day off or stagger it among staff.

The report showed that the most successful way to introduce this extra day off was to make it “clear, confident, and well-communicated,” as well as involve both staff and managers in the decision-making process to create the new schedule.

Nonetheless, enacting a four-day working week posed some challenges. It made it more difficult to work with partners still operating on a regular schedule.

Matthew Percival from the Confederation of British Industries said reduced working time was not a “one size fits all answer” and required certain budgetary measures. He argued that other options, such as increasing pay or parental leave, had their merits too.

As Scotland this month started a similar trial in the public sector, Autonomy has demanded that the central government in London allow a generalization of the policy.

The government responded saying it had no plans to introduce such measures. However, a spokesperson announced “changes to our flexible working legislation in April, including the right to request flexible working from day 1 of a new job.”