Pilot four-day week exercise gets thumbs up

The results of the UK’s largest four-day working week pilot have seen almost every participating organisation deciding to adopt a four-day week with no loss of pay for workers.

The trial, organised by 4 Day Week Global, involved around 2,900 employees in 61 organisations from various sectors agreeing to produce the same output for the same pay, while dropping a day of work.

Researchers reported a 65% reduction in sick days and a 57% fall in the number of staff leaving, compared to the same period the previous year.

Self-reported levels of anxiety and fatigue decreased, with 71% reporting lower levels of “burnout” while 39% said they were less stressed, compared to the start of the trial.

Workers also reported an increased ability to combine paid work with care responsibilities (60%) and to combine work with social life (62%).

And company revenue barely changed and even increased by 1.4% on average for the 23 organisations able to provide data.

Around 92% of companies that took part in the UK pilot programme (56 out of 61) say they intend to continue with the four-day working week.

The TUC has been campaigning for a 4-day week on decent pay for years. The 4 Day Week Campaign has rolled out resources for trade unionists on how to make the case to colleagues and management at www.4dayweek.co.uk/advice-for-trade-unionists.