Could the four-day working week be coming? 9/10 companies have backed trial mid study

Virgin Radio

22 Sep 2022, 10:53

This could be music to the nation's over-worked ears. Almost 9/10 UK companies who trialled the potential four-day working week have given the results a thumbs up and are planning to keep a three-day weekend plan going forward.

Testing over 70 companies across the UK from June, more than 3,300 employees trialled a four-day working week and have recorded no pay loss halfway through the six month study.

The trial — which has seen 4 Day Week Global, think tank Autonomy and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University, and Boston College — is also underway in the US, Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The trial has had positive responses with 95 percent of firms 'managing to maintain or even improve productivity during the shorter week'.

The 4 Day Week Global has confirmed that around 86 percent of companies were keen on the move.

Joe O'Connor, chief executive, said: "We are learning that for many it is a fairly smooth transition and for some there are some understandable hurdles - especially among those which have comparatively fixed or inflexible practices, systems, or cultures which date back well into the last century."

According to Autonomy, a parent with a child under two 'could save an estimated £1,440 per year in childcare and £340 in commuting' on a four-day week.

However, head of communications company Unit, Samantha Losey, told the The Telegraph last month: "It's more likely that we won't carry on now.

"One of the things that has struck me is whether or not we are a mature enough business to be able to handle the four-day week. The rest of the world not doing four-day weeks makes it challenging.

"We agreed we'd go all the way through the pilot, but I'm questioning whether this is the right thing for us long term. It's been bumpy for sure."