A report on a two-month trial of a four-day working week comprising 61 companies and around 2,900 workers, that took place in the UK from June to December 2022 was completed recently.
It found that it was a resounding success. Of the 61 companies that participated, 56 are continuing with the four-day week (92%), with 18 confirming the policy is a
permanent change.
Some of the most extensive benefits of shorter working hours were found in employees’ well-being. ‘Before and after’ data shows that 39% of employees were less stressed, and 71% had reduced levels of burnout at the end of the trial. Likewise, levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues decreased, while mental and physical health both improved. Measures of work-life balance also improved across the trial period.
Other key business metrics also showed signs of positive effects from shorter working hours. Companies’ revenue, for instance, stayed broadly the same over the trial period, rising by 1.4% on average, weighted by company size, across respondent organisations. When compared to a similar period from previous years, organisations reported revenue increases of 35% on average – which indicates healthy growth during this period of working time reduction.
The number of staff leaving participating companies decreased significantly, dropping by 57% over the trial period.
The 4 Day Week Foundation has run successive trials to gather data and demonstrate how companies can make the switch. In January, the foundation said more than 5,000 people from a previous wave had started the year permanently working a four-day week.
What are the drawbacks?
The four-day working week might not work across all industries.
Businesses operating a four-day working week could see an increase in unsatisfied customers.
You may incur additional costs if your business still has work to complete after a four-day week. This may come from paying employees for overtime or hiring agency staff to cover busy periods.
Implementing a four-day week on the other hand, could have a negative impact on productivity, for example if you are trying to match the productivity of a five-day week in four days could increase pressure on employees, potential leading to a drop in quality and more workplace stress.
So if your business is in a sector where a four-day week is practicable would you consider a switch?