Four day week trial reaches halfway point


Almost nine in 10 organisations involved in a trial that reduces a five day working week to four with no loss of pay for workers are likely to continue with the shorter week, the organisers say.


Seventy UK companies began a six month pilot in June (see Fact Service issue 23) organised by international campaign group 4 Day Week Global, which lobbies for a change to four day working weeks.


With the trial reaching its halfway point the organisers say that it has so far revealed “a general tenor of positive experiences alongside valuable lessons”.


The campaign points to the following interim findings:


88% of respondents stated that the four day week is working “well” for their business at this stage in the trial; 


46% of respondents say their business productivity has “maintained around the same level”, while 34% report that it has “improved slightly”, and 15% say it has “improved significantly; 


on how smooth the transition to a four day week has been (with 5 being “extremely smooth” and “1” being “extremely challenging”), 29% of respondents selected “5”, 49% selected “4” and 20% selected “3”; and


86% of respondents stated that at this juncture in the trial, they would be “extremely likely” and or “likely” to consider retaining the four day week policy after the trial period.


https://www.4dayweek.com/news-posts/uk-four-day-week-pilot-mid-results