A four-day workweek might be in the cards as a pilot program in the UK has reported positive results following a six-month trial.
A four-day workweek might be in the cards as a pilot program in the UK has reported positive results following a six-month trial.
The trial saw companies reduce their employees’ working hours while maintaining their salary, averaging a 32-hour workweek.
Participants encompassed a diverse range of industries, including manufacturers, not-for-profits, finance firms and even a fish and chip shop.
Of the 61 employers participating in the trial, 56 planned to continue the four-day workweek, with 18 of those planning to make the change permanent.
The positive results were largely consistent across workplaces of varying sizes, indicating that many organisations could benefit from the change, said the project’s lead researcher, Juliet Schor.
“Results are largely steady across workplaces of varying sizes, demonstrating this is an innovation which works for many types of organisations,” said Schor.
This decision likely comes as both companies and workers alike saw benefits as a result of the new schedule.
Of the 2900 workers who participated in the trial, surveys taken before and after the experience found that 39% felt less stressed, 40% reported better sleep and 54% said they found it easier to balance their work life with responsibilities at home.
Businesses saw an increase in revenue averaging 1.4% during the trial period, while rates of absenteeism and resignation dropped by more than 50%.
The 4 Day Week Campaign delivered in the UK was promoted by the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global and overseen by thinktank Autonomy.
Joe Ryle, the director of the campaign said that, “Across a wide variety of sectors, wellbeing has improved dramatically for staff; and business productivity has either been maintained or improved in nearly every case.
“We’re really pleased with the results and hopefully it does show that the time to roll out a four-day week more widely has surely come.”
The 4 Day Week Campaign is encouraging employers to try to the initiative following the success of the trial, and is lobbying for changes in legislation to give workers the legal right to request a four-day workweek.
The organisation has conducted similar trials globally and will be releasing results from their Australia and New Zealand-based studies soon.
The full results of the study can be viewed at 4 Day Week Global.
