UK’s 4-Day Work Week Trial Concludes with Positive Results
By The UK's four-day work week trial, one of the largest in the world, recently concluded with overwhelmingly positive results.[0] Of the 61 companies that participated in the trial, 56 said they are continuing with the four-day working week, with 18 confirming the policy is a permanent change.[1]
The research indicated that 39% of the workers reported lower levels of tension after the experiment, and 71% of them experienced a decrease in burnout by the end of the trial.[2] Employees also said they felt less anxious, less fatigued, and were sleeping better.[3] In addition, companies reported a 57% fall in staff departures over the trial period.[4]
Weighted for the size of the business, 23 companies saw their revenue increase by 1.4 percent over the course of the trial, while 24 separate companies experienced a growth of more than 34 percent from the same six-month period one year prior.[1]
Particularly, women benefited from the additional day off.[5] While both genders reported better outcomes, females experienced greater boosts around life and job satisfaction.[5] Men stated that they have taken on more childcare and housework responsibilities; however, they still do not carry out half of the tasks.[6]
A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge (U.K.), Boston College (U.S.), Autonomy (London-based think tank), 4 Day Week Global and the U.K.'s 4 Day Week Campaign conducted the study.[7]
Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign said, “This is a major breakthrough moment for the movement towards a four-day working week. Across a wide variety of different sectors of the economy, these incredible results show that the four-day week with no loss of pay really works.”[8]
The results of the trial suggest that a four-day workweek is a viable option for many companies. With the boost in productivity, revenue, and morale, as well as the improved mental health and lifestyle benefits, the four-day workweek could become the norm.[9]
0. “9 in 10 businesses keeping 4-day workweek after large U.K. trial” The Week, 22 Feb. 2023, https://theweek.com/business-news/1021197/large-4-day-workweek-trial-was-so-successful-9-in-10-businesses-say-they
1. “Working Just Four Days a Week Could Give Many of Us a Better Night's Sleep” ScienceAlert, 22 Feb. 2023, https://www.sciencealert.com/working-just-four-days-a-week-could-give-many-of-us-a-better-nights-sleep
2. “Bernie Sanders calls for four-day work week ‘with no loss of pay'” New York Post , 22 Feb. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/02/22/bernie-sanders-wants-four-day-work-week-with-no-loss-of-pay/
3. “4-day workweek trial: Shorter hours, happier employees” WLS-TV, 21 Feb. 2023, https://abc7chicago.com/four-day-work-week-life-balance-trial-employment-productivity/12855127/
4. “World’s biggest four-day working week trial hailed a ‘major breakthrough’” The National, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2023/02/21/worlds-biggest-four-day-working-week-trial-hailed-a-major-breakthrough/
5. “World's biggest 4-day work week trial finds few participants going back to 5-day week” The Straits Times, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.straitstimes.com/business/world-s-largest-4-day-work-week-trial-finds-few-are-going-back
6. “4-day working week trail claims success with ‘overwhelming majority’ in UK” Hindustan Times, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/4day-working-week-trail-claims-success-with-overwhelming-majority-in-uk-101676992870297.html
7. “Men did a lot more childcare while trialing a four-day work week” CNN, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/20/business/4-day-work-week-childcare/index.html
8. “‘Major breakthrough' in quest to send the four-day week mainstream” Positive.News, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.positive.news/society/the-results-of-the-worlds-largest-four-day-week-trial-are-in/
9. “The climate benefits of a four-day workweek” BBC, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230220-is-a-4-day-workweek-good-for-the-climate
