"A 4-day workweek has been associated with several benefits, including increased productivity, improved work-life balance, and reduced stress, as seen in trials and implementations by various organizations such as Microsoft and Atom Bank."

A 4-day workweek is associated with several benefits, including cost savings, improved productivity, better employee wellbeing, and improved work-life balance, as supported by survey results and expert opinions.

A 4-day workweek offers various benefits, including improved productivity, work-life balance, and employee wellbeing, but its implementation should be carefully considered to ensure it meets the needs of both employers and employees.

A 4-day workweek is linked to various benefits, including increased productivity, improved work-life balance, and reduced stress, with 81% of workers saying they would be more productive with a shorter workweek.

A 4-day workweek is associated with several benefits, including reduced burnout, improved health and finances, increased productivity, and revenue growth, as well as better employee wellbeing and work-life balance.

The UK four-day workweek trial involved approximately 3,000 employees who worked one day less per week without a reduction in salary.

Approximately 3,000 workers participated in the UK four-day workweek trial, which was conducted over a six-month period and involved more than 60 companies.

The UK four-day workweek trial involved almost 3,000 workers in a six-month trial with no loss of pay.

Approximately 3,000 workers participated in the UK four-day workweek trial, which was organized by 4 Day Week Global and involved 61 British businesses.

"A four-day workweek trial in the UK involved 61 companies and 2900 employees, resulting in reduced staff turnover and absenteeism rates, with 18 companies opting to permanently implement the four-day workweek."

Several companies, including Atom Bank, Bolt, Buffer, and Kickstarter, have successfully transitioned to a four-day workweek, with some pilot projects also underway in countries like the US, UK, and Spain.

"Multiple companies have successfully transitioned to a four-day workweek, citing benefits such as cost savings, improved productivity, and better employee well-being."

"Several companies, including Buffer and Microsoft Japan, have successfully implemented a four-day workweek, resulting in increased productivity and improved employee well-being."

"Multiple companies have successfully implemented a four-day workweek, resulting in increased productivity and improved work-life balance for employees, with proponents like Andrew Barnes advocating for its adoption globally."

Bolt, a San Francisco startup, has successfully transitioned to a four-day workweek, resulting in increased productivity and positive employee feedback.

Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries including the USA and Ireland, where positive effects on employee well-being were observed.

Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, where a six-month trial showed improved employee well-being and work-life balance.

"Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, as part of a pilot programme involving over 60 companies and 3,000 workers."

Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Japan, and others, with reported benefits including improved employee well-being and productivity.

"Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Japan, and others, with some trials showing major benefits to productivity and employee health."

61 UK companies participated in the 4-day workweek trial, which involved nearly 3,000 employees and showed positive results in terms of productivity and employee retention.

61 UK companies participated in the 4-day workweek trial.

A six-month trial in the UK involving 61 companies found that 92% of them opted to continue with a 4-day workweek after the trial ended.

"A total of 61 UK companies participated in the 4-day workweek trial, with 56 companies planning to continue testing the shortened work shifts after the trial ended."

Over 70 UK companies participated in the 4-day workweek trial by joining a scheme to alter their working week basis.

A 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the UK, involving over 60 companies and 3,000 employees, with the majority of companies planning to continue or adopt the policy.

The 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the United Kingdom.

A 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the United Kingdom, involving nearly 3,000 employees from 61 British businesses, and the results showed improvements in productivity and employee retention.

The 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the United Kingdom, involving 61 companies across various industries from June to December 2022.

A 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the UK, resulting in increased productivity and other benefits.

The United Kingdom has seen an increase in businesses adopting a four-day workweek, with 21% of respondents adopting it for all staff in 2021, according to a survey by the University of Reading's Henley Business School.

The United Kingdom has successfully implemented a 4-day workweek experiment, with results showing increased productivity and improved employee well-being.

The UK has successfully implemented a 4-day workweek experiment, with over 60 companies participating in a trial and more than 9 out of 10 companies planning to continue or adopt the policy.

The United Kingdom has successfully implemented a 4-day workweek experiment, with companies like Tyler Grange adopting the model permanently after a trial, resulting in improved employee well-being and productivity.

The United Kingdom has conducted a four-day workweek trial, which is relevant to the question about countries that have successfully implemented such experiments.

"A survey by Monster found that 61% of respondents prefer a 4-day workweek, indicating a significant proportion of employees who value flexibility in their work schedule."

The UK's four-day workweek trial started on June 6, 2022, and lasted until December 2022, involving 61 companies across various industries.

The UK's four-day workweek trial started on 6 June, 2022, and involved 61 companies from various industries, yielding generally positive results.

The 4-day workweek study involved approximately 3,000 employees from over 60 companies in the UK.

The 4-day workweek study involved approximately 3,000 employees.

Approximately 3,000 employees participated in the 4-day workweek study in the United Kingdom.

The 4-day workweek study involved approximately 3,000 employees from over 60 companies worldwide.

"A recent study on the 4-day workweek involved approximately 3000 employees from 61 companies, resulting in improved employee well-being and productivity."

"The UK's 4-day workweek test, which involved 2900 employees from 61 companies, resulted in improved employee well-being and productivity, with 18 companies choosing to permanently adopt the four-day workweek."

The UK's 4-day workweek test involved approximately 3,000 employees from 61 British businesses.

The UK's 4-day workweek test involved approximately 2900 employees in a six-month trial with no loss of pay.

"Similar four-day workweek experiments have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, where a company called Tyler Grange adopted the model after a trial."

Companies in countries like the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with numerous organizations and pilot projects underway.

Companies in the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with 70 companies joining a scheme to alter their working week basis.

Companies in the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with some choosing non-consecutive days off, but implementation poses challenges such as coordination and equality concerns.

Companies in the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with a study showing increased productivity and revenue, as well as improved employee well-being.

Companies in the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with over 60 companies participating in a trial that allowed employees to work one day less per week while retaining their salary.

The UK began its 4-day workweek social experiment on June 1, 2022, with participating companies reporting positive results such as increased productivity and better work-life balance.

The UK began its 4-day workweek social experiment on June 1, 2022, with 61 companies participating, yielding generally positive results.

The UK's 4-day workweek social experiment began on June 1, 2022, and lasted for six months, involving over 60 companies and 3,000 employees who maintained their salary while working one day less per week.

The UK began its 4-day workweek social experiment on June 1, 2022, exploring the potential benefits and challenges of this work arrangement.

The UK began its 4-day workweek social experiment on June 1, 2022, with 61 companies participating in a trial that lasted until December 2022.

Flexible scheduling, such as a 4-day workweek, can provide employees with better work-life balance.

Flexible scheduling, like a four-day workweek, can provide employees with better work-life balance by reducing burnout and improving overall well-being.

Flexible scheduling can provide employees with better work-life balance, as implied by the discussion of a shortened workweek and its potential benefits, particularly for women with family and child-care responsibilities.

Flexible scheduling, such as a 4-day workweek, can provide employees with better work-life balance, with many willing to change jobs to achieve this.

"Flexible scheduling, such as a 4-day workweek, can provide employees with better work-life balance by reducing fatigue and increasing overall well-being."

"A 4-day workweek has been associated with several benefits, including increased productivity, improved work-life balance, and reduced stress, as seen in trials and implementations by various organizations such as Microsoft and Atom Bank."

Title:

Content: Four-day workweek’s popularity grew during the pandemic — survey

As companies scrambled during the COVID-19 outbreak to reorient their workplace procedures and processes, one idea that gained ground was a shorter workweek.

More businesses adopted a four-day week during the COVID-19 pandemic as the shift to remote working spurred a major rethinking of work practices, according to a poll of senior leaders at 500 UK businesses by the University of Reading’s Henley Business School.

The survey, an update to research from 2019, showed that 21% of respondents adopted a four-day workweek for all staff in 2021, up from 18% in 2019. The majority of respondents (65%) said a four-day workweek is in place for at least some of their workers, up from 50% who said that in 2019. A four-day workweek is defined in the report as involving a reduction from five to four workdays for the same pay or a compressed workweek with the same hours across four days instead of five.

Though a four-day workweek has gained popularity, the UK numbers are perhaps higher than expected; job posting site Indeed told Computerworld that less than 1% of job postings on March 11 included the term “four-day week,” for example. A Gallup survey of full-time U.S. employees in March 2020 — prior to the pandemic — indicated that only 5% put in four days a week, with the vast majority (84%) working five days (and 11% working six days each week).

That said, numerous organizations have adopted or trialled a shorter workweek for staff since the start of the pandemic, including firms such as Atom Bank, Bolt, Buffer, and Kickstarter. And pilot projects are under way in several countries, including the US, UK, and Spain.

Such projects are not new, of course; Microsoft launched a trial at its Japan offices in 2019 that resulted in higher productivity, for example, while the UK’s Wellcome Trust ran into issues around complexity with its own project the same year.

A shorter workweek has been talked about for decades, but a shift from the five-day, 40-hour week that has been the standard for over a century has so far failed to gain momentum.

What’s behind the recent interest in the idea? One reason is that the widespread, and largely successful, shift to remote work during the pandemic showed the benefits of a more flexible approach to work, said Rita Fontinha, associate professor in Strategic Human Resource Management at the University of Reading’s Henley Business School.

“The pandemic led to a situation where most firms were forced to implement remote work and this has accelerated previous discussions that we have been having over the last two decades on flexible working,” said Fontinha. “Working from home led to increased trust [between employers and employees] and awareness of other ways of measuring performance that go beyond presenteeism. The pandemic showed that flexibility works.”

Report highlights four-day week advantages

The Henley Business School survey pointed to several advantages for businesses that implemented a four-day workweek, including costs savings (66%), improved productivity (64%), better quality output from staff (64%), and  less-stressed workers (78%).

Improved employee wellbeing is connected to business outcomes too, said Jack E. Gold, founder and principal analyst at research firm J. Gold Associates.

“Keeping employees happy and motivated makes for far more productive employees, no matter what hours they work,” said Gold. “Maximizing employee productivity is a much more important way to gain business value than hours worked.”

Another benefit, noted by 68% of survey respondents that had adopted a four day week, involved hiring and retention. “People were less likely to take sick leave, people were more productive, and it was easier to attract new staff, and to retain them,” said Fontinha.

The so-called Great Resignation is also likely contributing to interest in a shorter workweek.

“What’s different now than prior to the pandemic is that we’re seeing a temporary spike in the difficulty that firms are having in hiring and retaining workers, and the four-day work week is a relatively easy benefit to extend to help ease the challenge in the short term,” said David Brodeur-Johnson, principal analyst at research firm Forrester.

A shorter workweek can mean challenges

The survey also highlighted several challenges around implementing a shorter workweek, though employer concerns have softened during the pandemic.

Among companies that did not offer a four-day week, 65% said they were worried staffing costs would outweigh any productivity benefits (though that number was down from 80%). The biggest challenge cited by employers was meeting customer demands (75%), while 70% thought a shorter week would be too complicated to manage.

Some companies may find a switch to a four-day week easier than others, said Fontinha. IT-focused firms are more likely to switch, she said, largely due to the relative ease with which tech worker output can be tracked in comparison with other roles. “Areas where we were less likely to see the four-day week were sectors that involve contact with customers, or healthcare, for example,” she said.

A shorter workweek is also more suited to companies with a relatively homogenous workforce in terms of job roles, she said, meaning large businesses with a diverse workforce may find a short workweek complicated to roll out. At the same time, the smallest companies might not have the resources to support the shift, said Fontinha, adding that there are steps all businesses can take to implement a four-day week, even if they are more gradual.

“Having this overnight shift to a four-day working week will be hard for smaller firms,” she said. “What we suggest is a progressive reduction in working hours, moving towards a four-day working week by assessing how things are going and how needs are being met, how productive people are.”

Even if the benefits outweigh the costs for many, businesses should consider their reasons for moving to a four-day week. While a shorter week provides clear benefits to work/life balance and employee wellbeing, Brodeur-Johnson warns against adopting a four-day week as a shortcut to improving employee experience. “[T]he science is clear that what really engages people is being able to make progress in meaningful work every day; to know that they can and are succeeding,” he said.

“Employee experience peaks when we can leave work knowing that we made a difference, and had a really good day," he said. "It also comes from having a supportive manager, a supportive team environment, and feeling recognized and seen uniquely for the work that we do.

“All of these things are much harder for businesses to do for their people, because it involves behavior changes, manager development, culture changes, deeper resourcing and more that a four-day work week won’t solve on its own.”

Copyright © 2022 IDG Communications, Inc.

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What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

A 4-day workweek is associated with several benefits, including cost savings, improved productivity, better employee wellbeing, and improved work-life balance, as supported by survey results and expert opinions.

What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

The employees were happier
The productivity  increased

What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

A 4-day workweek offers various benefits, including improved productivity, work-life balance, and employee wellbeing, but its implementation should be carefully considered to ensure it meets the needs of both employers and employees.

What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

A 4-day workweek is linked to various benefits, including increased productivity, improved work-life balance, and reduced stress, with 81% of workers saying they would be more productive with a shorter workweek.

Title:

Content: news

81% of workers say a 4-day week would make them more productive—especially in these fields

A majority, 81%, of workers say they'd be more productive if they were given the chance to work a four-day workweek, and it could be an even bigger boost for those facing high rates of burnout, according to new research.

The poll was conducted on Fishbowl by Glassdoor and considers more than 12,000 responses from U.S. professionals.

Workers in fields with notoriously high rates of burnout were the most likely to say they'd get more done if they were able to shift to a four-day schedule: health-care workers, teachers, and retail and hospitality professionals.

"There's an extensive body of research confirming a tight link between burnout and declines in labor productivity," Aaron Terrazas, chief economist at Glassdoor, tells CNBC Make It.

The burnout-productivity cycle is "vicious," he adds. Left unchecked, burned out workers are more likely to look for work elsewhere, and "when they do quit, that leaves more work for their remaining teammates who then risk further burnout."

Participants in global four-day workweek experiments say the new arrangement led to reduced burnout, as well as benefits for their health, finances and relationships. A majority of bosses rated their overall experience well, saying business performance and productivity remained high, revenue increased and turnover dropped.

So far, many conversations around the viability of a four-day week tend to center around office workers, though the Glassdoor data shows how scheduling flexibility — and in particular reduced working days — could benefit front-line workers.

"We should also keep in mind that, particularly for health care, we should not conflate a workday with an eight-hour 9-to-5 schedule," Terrazas says. "Many health-care workers are accustomed to working longer continuous hours from their medical training."

Meanwhile, those in legal, accounting and finance roles say a shortened week would not boost their productivity.

By gender, women (88%) were more likely than men (75%) to say they'd get more done from a shorter workweek.

"For many women, the expectation to juggle family and child-care responsibilities alongside their careers forces a rigorous focus on making the most out of every moment of their day," Terrazas says. "I suspect we're seeing a similar phenomenon here: Time constraints often force a ruthless prioritization of what matters most."

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What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

Increase in productivity
Increase in work quality indicators

A 4-day workweek is associated with several benefits, including reduced burnout, improved health and finances, increased productivity, and revenue growth, as well as better employee wellbeing and work-life balance.

What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

The employees were happier
The productivity  increased

What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

What has a Gallup Poll found out about the prospect of 4-day workweek?

77% of American employees believe that it will have a positive impact on their health

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

Increase in productivity
Increase in work quality indicators

The UK four-day workweek trial involved approximately 3,000 employees who worked one day less per week without a reduction in salary.

Title:

Content: How about four days a week instead of five?
Here are the results of an exciting experiment involving 60 companies around the world.
More than 60 companies participated in the experiment, allowing around 3,000 employees to work one day less per week while retaining the same salary.
Rates of stress, burnout and fatigue all fell, while problems with sleep declined, the study shows.
Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
MAIN POINTS
• The study found that more than 9 out of 10 companies will continue to shorten the work week or plan to do so
• Productivity was not affected by lighter work weeks, with the company ’ s revenue increasing by an average of 1.4 per cent over the trial period
The study also found that employment increased and absenteeism decreased.
A four-day workweek is more productive for most employees and businesses than the traditional five-day workweek, and is one of the largest trials ever conducted in the UK.
More than 60 companies in the UK participated in the trial over a six-month period, allowing around 3,000 employees to work one day less per week while retaining the same salary.
The trial was conducted between June and December and was organized by a nonprofit group called 4 Day Week Global in collaboration with the Autonomy Research Center, the University of Cambridge, and Boston College in the United States.
The experience is described as the largest in the world around working four days a week.
The survey released on Tuesday found that more than nine out of 10 companies would continue to adopt or plan to do so, while only 4 percent chose not to extend it, regulators said in a statement.
Juliette Shore, a professor at Boston College, said: “The results are largely the same across workplaces of all sizes, demonstrating that this innovation has proven to be effective in many diverse organizations.
Productivity was not affected by shorter working days, with the company ’ s revenue increasing by an average of 1.4% over the trial period.
Revenue jumped 35% on average when compared to similar periods in previous years.
The study also found that employment increased and absenteeism decreased, while the number of resignations dropped sharply during the trial.
In addition, the researchers concluded that overall health and staff well-being improved.
"Significant" increases were also observed in physical and mental health, time spent on exercise, public life and job satisfaction.
Stress, fatigue and fatigue rates have decreased, while sleep problems have decreased.
"Really positive."
Cambridge University professor Brendan Burchell told AFP: “In terms of employees, their mental health improved, they slept better, and they became less stressed.
“But at the same time, companies have stated that if there are changes in their profits or in their performance, they are more likely to go up rather than down. ”
“A lot of people were very happy, people really enjoyed it; and they found it good to have three-day weekends instead of two days. ”
Environmental consultancy Tyler Grange in the UK was among 18 companies that decided to permanently adopt a four-day work week after participating in the trial.
Nathan Jenkinson, customer manager at Tyler Grange, told AFP: “My experience has been really positive, you can see it in people ’ s work and they ’ re more active.
“Employees come to work at the beginning of the week on Monday, after three days off, feel more positive about work and have a lot of energy. ”
Tyler Grange said performance improved slightly despite reduced working hours.
In recent years, studies of the four-day workweek have spread globally as employers explore the nature of post-pandemic work, including the concept of a co-working place that allows more work from home.
Short-week experiments were conducted across Europe, the United States and Canada, as well as in Australia and New Zealand.
However, when asked whether the UK government might adopt the test as a national policy, Prime Minister ’ s spokesman Rishi Sonak sounded cautious and stated, “There are no plans for that. ”
Continue the dialogue via our accounts on and
Check out the latest Australian news and topics you ’ re interested in.
You can also listen to our programs on or through the free SBS Radio app.
You can also watch news at any time on SBS On Demand.
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Published at 22 / 02 / 2023 1: 59pm
Presented by: Nassif Khoury
Source: AFP
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The subject.

Approximately 3,000 workers participated in the UK four-day workweek trial, which was conducted over a six-month period and involved more than 60 companies.

The UK four-day workweek trial involved almost 3,000 workers in a six-month trial with no loss of pay.

Title:

Content: Ina Opperman
Business Journalist
3 minute read
26 Feb 2023
10:00 am

Largest 4-day week trial results good news for future of work

Ina Opperman

Will a 4-day workweek work? It seems that employees and employers are happy.

The results of the world’s largest 4-day week trial is good news for the future of work, with new research showing that these results are largely in line with existing global evidence, further demonstrating the benefits of reduced-hour, output-focused working.

The pilot programme conducted in the UK by non-profit 4 Day Week Global, the UK’s 4-Day Week Campaign and think tank Autonomy, guided over 60 companies and almost 3 000 workers through a six-month trial of a 4-day week, with no loss of pay for workers.

This brings the global campaign’s total number of completed pilot participants to 91 companies and approximately 3 500 employees. Lead researcher, professor Juliet Schor of Boston College, says overall results show that almost every organisation will stick to a 4-day week after the trial, with 91% definitely continuing or planning to continue and another 4% leaning towards continuing. Only 4% of participants are definitely not continuing.

Participating companies rated their overall experience of the trials at an average of 8.5/10, with business productivity and business performance each scoring 7.5/10. Revenue increased by 35% over the trial periods when compared to similar periods from the previous year, while hiring increased and absenteeism decreased.

ALSO READ: 28 SA companies to implement 4-day work week on 1 March

Improved employee wellbeing and health

During the trial it was also found that the health and wellbeing of employees also improved, with significant increases observed in physical and mental health, time spent exercising and overall life and job satisfaction. Rates of stress, burnout and fatigue all decreased along with problems with sleep.

Even the environmental outcomes were encouraging, with commuting time falling across the full sample by a half hour per week.

Schor says she observed an encouraging consistency in the data, with results largely steady across workplaces of varying sizes, demonstrating this is an innovation which works for many types of organisations.

“There are also some interesting differences. We found that employees in non-profits and professional services had a larger average increase in time spent exercising, while those in construction and manufacturing enjoyed the largest reductions in burnout and sleep problems.”

Behavioural scientist and new CEO of 4-Day Week Global, Dr Dale Whelehan, explained the sample produced interesting differences in gender outcomes. “While men and women benefit from a 4-day week, women’s experience is generally better for burnout, life and job satisfaction, mental health and reduced commuting time.”

ALSO READ: 4-day work week pilot so successful, all participating companies sticking to it

4-day workweek also balances home tasks

Encouragingly, the research also showed that the burden of non-work duties appears to be balancing out, with more men taking on a greater share of housework and childcare.

Co-founder and MD of 4-Day Week Global, Charlotte Lockhart, says her team is delighted to be expanding the arguments in favour of a 4-day week with this new world-class academic research. “We look forward to adding our Australasian pilot results to this data set in the coming weeks and our European, South African, Brazilian and North American results in the coming months.”

4-Day Week Global was founded in New Zealand by entrepreneurs and philanthropists, Andrew Barnes and Charlotte Lockhart, following the world-renowned success of their pioneering trial of the 4-day week in Perpetual Guardian.

Their approach is based on the 100-80-100™ model designed by Lockhart alongside the Perpetual Guardian trial in 2018. That means 100% of the pay, for 80% of the time, in exchange for a commitment to deliver 100% of the output.

4-Day Week Global’s ambition is to make a 4-day week the new default and reduced working time the new standard.

Approximately 3,000 workers participated in the UK four-day workweek trial, which was organized by 4 Day Week Global and involved 61 British businesses.

Title:

Content: World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Four-Day Workweek Trial Proved So Successful Many UK Firms Will Retain It as New Policy

CC BY 2.0 / Nenad Stojkovic / Businesswoman with beautiful nails working on her laptopBusinesswoman with beautiful nails working on her laptop
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It's one of the largest trials to put a four-day workweek to the test. The non-profit firm invited companies to either shorten their employees’ workweeks by giving them one day a week off or reducing their work hours to 32 hours per week, while still paying their employees the same salary or wage as before the trial.
Newly released study results have suggested it might finally be time to implement a four-day work week after a trial revealed the shift provided major benefits to general productivity and employee health.
The trial, which took place in the United Kingdom, involved nearly 3,000 employees and was organized by the not-for-profit group 4 Day Week Global (alongside the research group Autonomy and researchers with Boston College and the University of Cambridge).
Some 61 British businesses including banks, fast-food restaurants and marketing agencies participated in the trial.
Analyzing the study findings, officials determined the businesses found a sharp decline in the number of employees wanting to quit, while about 46% of companies said their business productivity remained the same, and 34% reported a slight improvement in productivity. Another 15% of employers reported a significant improvement in productivity.
One company, Trio Media, reported a 47% increase in revenue from the year-earlier period. The chief executive of the company, Claire Daniels, said she would continue the trial for another six months before making a permanent switch, but added she didn’t “see [the company] going back to a typical five-days-a-week model.”
Overall on a scale of 0 (very negative) to 10 (very positive) employers scored the productivity and performance of their employees at 7.5 after six months of a shortened workweek. At least 18 businesses from the study said they planned to make the shorter workweek permanent, while 56 of the 61 companies said they would continue testing the shortened work shifts even after the trial ended.
Just three companies said they would not pursue a shortened workweek.
About 15% of employees who participated in the trial said that “no amount of money” could convince them to return to a five-day workweek, as employees reported better sleep, lower stress levels, and improved personal lives and mental health.
“At the beginning, this was about pandemic burnout for a lot of employers. Now it’s more of a retention and recruitment issue for many of them,” explains Juliet Schor, an economist and sociologist at Boston College whose team helped conduct the study.
A separate study from October 2021 found that in a survey of over 1,000 Americans, 98% of respondents said a four-day workweek would improve their mental health, nine out of 10 people said that a five-day workweek was outdated and almost 80% of respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged their desire for a shortened workweek.
Three out of four respondents in that another study also said they would consider leaving their current job if they were offered a position with a four-day workweek. And a Gallup Report from 2019 revealed that high turnover rates cost US businesses $1 trillion in voluntary turnover per year.
Opponents argue that a shortened workweek would not be suitable for every field of work including child care and health care, both of which are experience widespread staff shortages as nurses in England have gone on strike after struggling to secure increased wages from their government.
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"A four-day workweek trial in the UK involved 61 companies and 2900 employees, resulting in reduced staff turnover and absenteeism rates, with 18 companies opting to permanently implement the four-day workweek."

Title:

Content: [Retain talent] Enterprise test 4 days a week production efficiency improvement of employees: work pressure reduction and health improvement
Stock Market 07: 41 2023 / 02 / 22
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[Retain talent] Enterprise test 4 days a week production efficiency improvement
Do you want to work four days a week?
According to the Wall Street Journal, most of the British companies participating in the four-day work week test said that after six months of testing, the staff turnover rate and absenteeism rate fell sharply, which is the largest four-day work week test to date. 61 companies, including banks, fast food restaurants, marketing consultants, etc., involved 2900 employees. Eighteen companies said they would permanently implement the four-day workweek.
For decades, the market has been exploring the idea of working less than five days a week, or 40 hours a week, which has become a new opportunity under the pandemic, as home-based and mixed-work arrangements have become more widely accepted, and employers have also taken the opportunity to explore whether shortening work hours can improve employee happiness and loyalty.
Working days have become a retention and recruitment issue
Juliet Schor, an economist and sociologist at Boston College, said that it was initially due to the mental fatigue of wage earners during the epidemic, but it has now become a retention and recruitment problem.
Her team has helped conduct research around the world on a four-day workweek, including researchers from the UK think tank Autonomy and the University of Cambridge.
The research is being conducted around the world. Small tests in the United States and Canada are being led by research institutes in the United Kingdom, and similar tests are being conducted in Australia and Brazil. Unilever, an internationally renowned consumer goods company, is also participating in the tests.
Testing in Iceland, involving more than 2,500 employees in various industries, researchers found that most employees maintained or increased productivity, as well as reduced work stress.
Most companies that try 4-day work are small employers
Since most of the companies experimenting with four-day work are small employers, many large companies have yet to embrace the concept.
In the test, some employees reported that it was difficult to complete all the work during this time.
In a study conducted in the UK from June to November, most employees did not increase their work intensity, but bosses held fewer meetings to give employees more time to get their work done.
Finally, employers rated employee productivity and performance on an average of 7.5 on a scale from 0 (very negative) to 10 (very positive), and at half of the test, 46% of companies said their business productivity remained unchanged, while 34% reported a slight improvement and 15% reported a significant improvement.
20% of your time is wasted on unnecessary meetings
On the other hand, 39% of employees reported less stress at work, but half of employees reported no change in their index.
Nearly half of employees reported improved mental health and 37% reported improved physical health.
Claire Daniels, CEO of Trio Media, a digital marketing company with 13 employees in the UK, said she took part in the trial to see if she could improve productivity.
Before the test began, she analyzed with employees that 20% of their time was wasted on unnecessary meetings, business trips, and other inefficiencies.
"Very soon, we will know that we do not have to do any extra work in these four days," she said.
The productivity of the 4-day work was flat or slightly improved from the same period last year
Daniels pointed out that she would have employees work from Monday to Thursday, and Tuesday to Friday, and have employees take extra places to follow up on their colleagues ’ work during the holidays.
No longer do marathon daily team meetings with employees, in longer meetings involving customers and multiple presentations, employees will only attend part of the meeting based on necessity and then leave.
The hardest part, she says, is for employees to make sure they don ’ t go back to their old work mindset or habits. Overall, productivity was flat or slightly higher compared to the same period last year, with revenue up 47%.
She wants to continue experimenting for another six months before making a permanent change, “but I don ’ t think we ’ re going to go back to the typical five-day week. ”
If the four-day work week can improve production efficiency and the employees are happy, the bosses think that they can give it a try, or they think that the workload of five days can be completed in four days, so that the employees can continue to overcomplete their work on the fifth day.
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Several companies, including Atom Bank, Bolt, Buffer, and Kickstarter, have successfully transitioned to a four-day workweek, with some pilot projects also underway in countries like the US, UK, and Spain.

Which company in San Francisco has announced a permanent 4-day workweek?

"Multiple companies have successfully transitioned to a four-day workweek, citing benefits such as cost savings, improved productivity, and better employee well-being."

What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

The employees were happier
The productivity  increased

What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

"Several companies, including Buffer and Microsoft Japan, have successfully implemented a four-day workweek, resulting in increased productivity and improved employee well-being."

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A Psychologist Explores The ‘Shorter Workweek Paradox’

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Have you ever wished you never had to work on a Monday? Your dream might be closer than you think. The concept of reduced working hours is gaining traction globally as organizations and governments recognize the detrimental effects of long hours on employees and employers.

This perspective is catalyzing a shift toward rethinking and reducing work hours to promote healthier life practices. For instance, the post-pandemic adoption of hybrid work models contributed to the understanding that a healthy work-life balance boosts employee satisfaction and productivity. Shorter workweeks can be achieved in different ways. For example:

  • Four-day week. Apart from the weekend, you are also given a day off on Monday or Friday.
  • Fewer daily work hours. You still have to work a five-day workweek, with a reduction in your daily working hours.
  • Half-days off. You are given two afternoons off in a five-day workweek.

What Are The Benefits Of Reduced Working Hours?

In several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden and Spain, trials have been carried out to test the efficiency of shorter workweeks, highlighting the following benefits:

  1. Improved work performance. Shorter workweeks might encourage you to finish your work quicker and with fewer distractions. In 2020, Buffer, an American company, introduced four-day weeks. Based on their extensive trials, 34% of their employees felt more productive, resulting in Buffer permanently shifting to a four-day workweek in 2021. The reduced hours also incentivize you to be creative with your time and encourage efficiency. In their 2019 four-day workweek project, Microsoft Japan initiated collaborative online communication, reduced meetings to 30 minutes and limited meeting participants. Not only were the workers happier, they also experienced a 40% increase in productivity.
  2. Improved health and well-being. Having more time to recuperate from work can positively influence your well-being. A 2022 study found that upon reducing work hours to 30 hours per week, individuals experienced reduction in stress and sleep problems. A four-day week trial conducted in the USA and Ireland showed that employees experienced a 9% reduction in fatigue and 67% also experienced a drop in burnout levels.
  3. Higher life satisfaction. Shorter work hours and more free time tend to improve one’s perception of their life situation. A study in Sweden examined the effects of reduced work hours and canceled lunch breaks for nurses while retaining their wages. The participants reported greater life satisfaction and higher energy levels. “You get a life. I can say as much. You do get it, actually—it is unbelievable what a big difference these two hours make,” a participant explained.
  4. Better work-life balance. Reduced work hours can foster a healthy balance between work and leisure activities. A study found that reducing employees’ work hours while retaining their full pay led to positive work-life balance. They experienced more positive emotions before work, reduced work-related worries and improved relationships with partners, colleagues and their children.

While reduced working hours might seem like a revolutionary idea from afar, reality may be more complex up close. Which brings us to:

What Are The Potential Pitfalls Of Reduced Working Hours?

Here’s why ditching the time-tested five-day workweek needs to be considered carefully:

  1. Monetary issues. Some companies provide shorter workweeks with salary deductions. Employees might also face issues in wage regulations and overtime pay. These can adversely impact their living standards and savings. A 2022 study found that working reduced hours left 45% of individuals worried about having low future retirement income and 33% of individuals found it harder to make ends meet.
  2. Reduced employee bonding. The time crunch to complete tasks in less time can impede social aspects of the job. Some companies also shorten lunch breaks to compensate for missed hours. In such cases, employees rarely get to meet their colleagues and miss out on social interaction.
  3. Higher work pressure. Reducing work hours can increase strain on employees when implemented without foresight. A four-day workweek trial conducted in the UK found that work felt more intense for 36% of the employees. Forty-five percent of employees also felt that their productivity either remained the same as before or decreased in comparison.
  4. Short-term effects. Extensive research on reduced working hours has yet to establish its effectiveness in the long run. A 2022 Gallup survey revealed that the high well-being once associated with four-day workweeks leveled out to match that of the five-day workweek. Four-day workweeks also led to greater burnout than five-day workweeks.

Your desire for a shorter workweek is well-founded. However, initiating a conversation about reduced work hours with your team requires tact and consideration. You must engage in open dialogue, highlighting the potential benefits and addressing concerns to ensure a healthy consensus and eventually, a smooth transition to a work environment that accommodates diverse work styles.

Working less can improve your quality of life. It’s also important to find a “psychologically safe” workplace. Learn if your employer is meeting your needs by taking the evidence-based Psychological Safety Scale.

"Multiple companies have successfully implemented a four-day workweek, resulting in increased productivity and improved work-life balance for employees, with proponents like Andrew Barnes advocating for its adoption globally."

Title:

Content: [Workplace Culture] Non-Profit Organization 4 Day Week Global Advocates for Corporate Transition to “4-Day Workday ”
Commercial 15: 09 2022 / 06 / 01
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“4 Day Week Global ” explores and studies with businesses to see if they can stay 100% productive if their employees work 20% less hours, four days a week.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have changed their work patterns, such as hybrid work and flexible working arrangements such as the four-day workweek, to reduce the chance of infection due to social contact.
However, in 2018, before the outbreak of the epidemic, New Zealand entrepreneur Andrew Barnes had already piloted the four-day work system for his company, and later established the non-profit group “4 Day Week Global ” to promote and guide the implementation of the four-day work system to global enterprises.
Andrew Barnes experimented with a four-day workweek for 240 employees at his company, Perpetual Guardian, which turned out to be a great success, with employees becoming happier and more productive, making it a permanent system.
Report: 92% of HR executives plan to use AI to enhance talent recruitment and management processes
Andrew Barnes then founded “4 Day Week Global ” and spoke in 99 countries on the topic of the four-day workweek, working with businessmen, academics and researchers around the world to bring productivity-focused flexible working to life.
“4 Day Week Global ” explores and studies with companies to see if they can stay 100% productive if their employees work 20% less hours, four days a week. Andrew Barnes says it ’ s not just about work-life balance, it ’ s about how to increase productivity to make the business better.
Focus more on production and return time to employees
“The idea of working four days a week is what I can give my employees as an incentive to focus on production, ” says Andrew Barnes.
If they can use their time more wisely, it makes sense to give it back to them. ” So he created the “100: 80: 100 framework ”, which allows employees to trade 100% of their salary, 80% of their time, for 100% productivity.
Report: 60% of employees have misused email to leak company data
In June this year, 20 companies from Oceania participated in the 4-day workweek pilot project of “4 Day Week Global ” and collaborated with Boston College, the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand to guide companies through each step of the implementation trial.
Since January, similar pilot projects have been running in Ireland, North America and the UK, with 125 companies enrolled.
Andrew Barnes warns entrepreneurs: “Your biggest risk right now is not whether or not to try the four-day workday, but whether or not your biggest competitor has implemented it before you. ”
He emphasized that if entrepreneurs can ’ t re-imagine how the business works, employees will leave you and choose leaders with a broader vision.
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What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

Which company in New Zealand implemented 4-day workweek?

Bolt, a San Francisco startup, has successfully transitioned to a four-day workweek, resulting in increased productivity and positive employee feedback.

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San Francisco Startup Permanently Implemented Employees: Increased Efficiency
San Francisco unicorn startup Bolt announces new employee benefits: a permanent four-day workweek.
The e-commerce development company trialed the system last fall, and the results were very positive.
“I can ’ t think of a better way to run this company, ” said Ryan Breslow, founder and CEO.
Breslow said that with the implementation of the program, the company has increased productivity, streamlined workflows, and employees are happy.
At the end of the three-month pilot program, Bolt conducted an opinion survey and 94% of employees and 91% of management wanted the program to continue.
In addition, 84% of employees reported increased productivity, 86% reported increased productivity, and 84% found a better work-life balance.
Breslow noted that the idea is not to increase the number of hours employees work, but to increase their productivity.
After the implementation of the plan, the concentration of employees during working hours has increased significantly.
“Many companies are like ‘ theater ’ where people care more about appearances than the work itself, so there are endless meetings and endless reports, ” Breslow added.
In this case, it is impossible to exclude noise from the core of the problem. "
With 550 full-time employees, Bolt is one of the few companies in the United States to implement a four-day workweek.
Supporters of the system hope that this approach will be adopted by more businesses, especially at a time when the focus is on attracting and retaining employees.
Millions of people in the United States have quit their jobs in the Great Resignation over the past few months, a record 4.5 million last November alone.
Joe O ’ Connor, Global Experiment Program Manager at 4 Day Week Global, said: “The companies we ’ ve helped transition to a four-day week say it ’ s significantly broadened the pool of potential candidates. ”
In fact, in July last year, Members of the United States introduced a bill to reduce the working week from the standard 40 hours to 32 hours, but no progress has been made.
The four-day work week is not applicable to all businesses, because the business model of each company is different.
“It should be seen as a starting point for how companies can work smarter and more efficiently, ” O ’ Connor said.
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What companies are adopting 4-day workweek?

Mainly nonprofit and small tech companies under 1,000 employees

Which company in San Francisco has announced a permanent 4-day workweek?

Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries including the USA and Ireland, where positive effects on employee well-being were observed.

Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, where a six-month trial showed improved employee well-being and work-life balance.

Title:

Content: WORK IT OUT |

Majority of workers in Ireland want four-day working week

“While the number of employers currently offering a four-day working week is still extremely low, this research suggests that this may change within the next 1- years with employees seeking more appealing and flexible working options.”

Laura LynottIndependent.ie

A massive 95pc of Irish workers approve of a four-day week, according to a new study.

However, only 3.5pc of workplaces have implemented or trialled a four-day working week.

Despite this, 81pc of workers said they believe a four-day working week will become a reality within the next 10 years, according to the survey by recruitment firm Hays.

Hays Ireland director Maureen Lynch said: “While the number of employers currently offering a four-day working week is still extremely low, this research suggests that this may change within the next 10 years with employees seeking more appealing and flexible working options.

“Since the emergence from the pandemic restrictions, employers have begun to reconsider the workplace environment. The switch to remote and hybrid working models has proven hugely successful.

"All professionals have embraced these new ways of working with the four-day working week becoming the latest idea to enhance employers’ differentiation from competitors.

“While the number of employers currently offering a four-day working week is still extremely low, this research suggests that this may change within the next 1- years with employees seeking more appealing and flexible working options.”

The recruitment company surveyed 973 employers and professionals across Ireland and found 73pc of employees would consider moving jobs for a shorter working week. This was a rise of almost 10pc on last year’s figure (64pc).

Only five pc said they would not leave their current role if the option presented itself in another organisation, while 22pc said it would depend on the opportunity.

The majority ( 81pc) felt a four-day week would become a reality within the next decade, with only 19pc stating they felt it would never occur.

Some 88pc of employees already working a four-day week said it has had a positive impact on their professional life. The same number felt it was beneficial to their personal life.

Of those surveyed, the majority said an additional day off would be beneficial, with 89pc believing it would have a positive effect on employee mental health and well-being.

While 59pc thought that working one less day would be beneficial for organisational productivity and one-third felt it would improve employee living standards. Almost half (47pc) thought it would have a benefit on talent attraction and retention.

However 51pc of employers said they are concerned about a potential impact on productivity of a standard four-day working week.

Almost the same number (47pc) said they were not prepared to switch to a four-day week for operational reasons, while 22pc said they could not consider it for financial reasons. Some 20pc of employers were concerned the change could increase pressure on staff.

Hybrid working for five days a week was preferred to a four-day week. Some 55pc of professionals said they would prefer hybrid working for five days compared to 45pc, who would choose to work a four-day week with every day spent in the office.

Most respondents (75pc) said that they would use the extra day for leisure time, including exercise and hobbies. Meanwhile 71pc would spend time on life administration, while 70pc would spend more time with friends and family. Some 44pc would use the time for self-development, such as learning a new language, and 21pc would volunteer.

Last month, the results of a six-month trial involving 61 companies in the UK revealed that 92pc opted to continue working four days when the trial had ended. Reported benefits were said to include improved employee well-being and work-life balance.

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What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

"Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, as part of a pilot programme involving over 60 companies and 3,000 workers."

Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Japan, and others, with reported benefits including improved employee well-being and productivity.

"Studies and trials on the 4-day workweek have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Japan, and others, with some trials showing major benefits to productivity and employee health."

61 UK companies participated in the 4-day workweek trial, which involved nearly 3,000 employees and showed positive results in terms of productivity and employee retention.

61 UK companies participated in the 4-day workweek trial.

Title:

Content: UK companies test "4-day working week" workers generally agree that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages 51% permanent implementation
Author: Zhang Zijie
Published: Updated:
A number of UK companies are participating in a four-day workweek pilot scheme in the second half of 2022, with media reporting that most of the participating companies continue to allow employees to work fewer hours per week, and more than half of the companies have made the arrangement a regular measure.
The United Kingdom has 61 companies from marketing, professional services, non-profit organizations, construction, manufacturing, retail, health care, art and other industries, employees from June to December 2022, participate in the four-day work week, pay and performance of the same trial.
British citizens walk through the Canary Wharf Financial District on August 3, 2023. (Reuters)
As of the end of 2023, at least 89% of participating companies continued to maintain the measure, and at least 51% permanently implemented the measure, according to a report published by Autonomy, a think-tank that conducted the research.
The study found that shortening work hours generally benefits employees and businesses, who feel that their mental and physical health has improved, as well as a better balance between work and life, a better life, and less fatigue from work.
In addition, the managers and CEOs of the 28 participating companies unanimously agreed that the four-day work week has had a positive impact on the company, reducing staff wastage, significantly improving recruitment, and benefiting employees physically and mentally.
Sixty-one companies from different industries in the UK piloted a four-day work week in 2022, and the results were generally positive.
People enjoy a view of the City of London on 23 September 2023.
(Reuters)
The study, which listed a number of ways to maintain a four-day work week, including safety changes such as meetings, workplace communication, and work priorities, found that the improvements felt by employees continued for a year after the trial ended.
Researchers at Boston College, Cambridge, and Oxford University believe that the key to the strength of the data is not the rare or short-term impact, but the real and long-term impact.
Therefore, the four-day work week is not a flash in the sky, and British companies have succeeded in turning it into a permanent and effective measure.
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A six-month trial in the UK involving 61 companies found that 92% of them opted to continue with a 4-day workweek after the trial ended.

"A total of 61 UK companies participated in the 4-day workweek trial, with 56 companies planning to continue testing the shortened work shifts after the trial ended."

Over 70 UK companies participated in the 4-day workweek trial by joining a scheme to alter their working week basis.

Title:

Content: The four-day work week is welcome, but some challenges remain

This shift has thrown up interesting questions on macro and micro levels that over time will need answering

Beta V.1.0 - Powered by automated translation

The sin of presenteeism is shaping up as a pre-pandemic anachronism, and the principal reason for this is not just remote working but an emerging historic global shift towards a shorter working week.

The global headaches from supply constraints following Covid-19 disruption have overshadowed equally profound changes in the labour market. For some bosses, there is rationing not just of the number of workers but the time they are willing to work. As people reassess their work-life balance, responsible employers and some countries are looking at the advantages of compressed hours on the job.

The UAE is a trailblazer in this regard, with most emirates having formally adopted a 4.5-day working model. Sharjah has gone further by opting for a four-day model. Reporting last week in this newspaper found that its residents said they are healthier and happier, enjoying more weekend flexibility and having more time with their families.

Many forecasts over recent years have been very wide of the mark about the economic trajectory of the big developed economies. The Resolution Foundation, a UK-based think tank that looks at work, points out that in analysing the pandemic, “many feared a house price bust, expected the inflation spike to be small/short-lived, said unemployment/insolvencies for workers/firms respectively would surge and claimed this would be a ‘she-cession’. None happened”.

Technology is the driver of all this, and the trend may over time become irresistible

Analysis of Google searches in the UK from an employment agency recently reported the four-day work week had gained popularity among people on the hunt for their next job opportunity. “Google searches for "4 day week jobs" exploded a spectacular 1,011 per cent in early 2022, when compared to 2021,” according to the firm’s research.

One of Britain’s biggest and best-known corporate brands, the department store M&S, has hired a well-known female executive who is a prominent four-day week champion, Katie Bickerstaffe. She said her role was compatible with shorter hours, even though it is a round-the-clock operation.

“We’re a seven-days-a-week, 24-hour operation and that’s what you do, but I’ve always done that [four days] because it gives me the freedom to spend some downtime with my kids and not feel that I don’t have the opportunity to do that during the week,” she explained.

The news coincided with the announcement that 70 UK companies had voluntarily joined a scheme to alter the working week basis of their business. Signing on to a pledge to pay 100 per cent of wages for 80 per cent of the hours worked means much more than just creating new rotas. It means altering the internal working patterns of the business and finding new ways to accommodate latency in the workforce.

Not everyone is convinced this can deliver a kind of workplace nirvana.

The Centre for Policy Studies carried out some research last year that estimated that a four-day week would have a big cost to the economy if productivity levels remained constant. The annual shortfall to the economy would be £45 billion ($55.42bn). On more generous calculations, if a 6 per cent increase in productivity could be achieved in the first decade of the reform, the loss overall could be pared back to £17bn. The analyst behind the figures believes the evidence for productivity gains from compressing hours and having shorter working weeks is extremely limited.

That is not much of an argument for not experimenting with shorter weeks. Employees already job-share and expect work-from-home arrangements throughout the work force. In office-based roles or project work, the flexibility to complete the workload that comes with the job most obviously lends itself to working with a defined, shorter time frame.

There are hurdles for other jobs. Customer-facing roles or service functions will still need to be provided across a far longer time-frame than four days or 32 hours. Unlike in Sharjah, there is no clear directive in the UK for a common day that extends the weekend. Indeed, many people working four days chose a non-consecutive day, such as Wednesday, for the non-working option.

Without the government plumping for Friday as part of a three-day weekend, it is likely that businesses will experience co-ordination both internally and with clients and supplies if substantial numbers in the workforce are missing in action for part of the working week.

There are also concerns around the equality of the development. Can it be true that more flexibility would allow women, in particular, to better balance childcare obligations and thus erode the disadvantage with men?

And as the work-from-home phenomenon has shown, the higher-paid employees have snapped up the main benefits from structural changes in how people work. There is little to suppose that this trend would not emerge from the four-day week.

Technology is, of course, the driver of all this, and the trend may over time become irresistible.

Certainly, the difficulties of drawing an absolute boundary between the working day and your time revolve around the fact that your email is always in your pocket on the phone. That is double-edged. It would be difficult for employers to play another card: offering people four days’ pay, not the salaried five.

Published: June 13, 2022, 4:00 AM

A 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the UK, involving over 60 companies and 3,000 employees, with the majority of companies planning to continue or adopt the policy.

The 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the United Kingdom.

A 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the United Kingdom, involving nearly 3,000 employees from 61 British businesses, and the results showed improvements in productivity and employee retention.

The 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the United Kingdom, involving 61 companies across various industries from June to December 2022.

A 4-day workweek trial was conducted in the UK, resulting in increased productivity and other benefits.

Title:

Content: New normal | Will 2024 be the year of the four-day week boom? Probably not…

At one point in time, flexible working was a prime example of the benefits that truly had the power to lure and retain talent.

Those days are now behind us.

This isn’t because the prospect of working from home, or altering office hours around childcare or medical appointments isn’t still alluring. In fact, far from it. It’s because in the interim, the world experienced a massive shift. One that not only forced many businesses to adopt remote working policies or face the prospect of inactivity, but also changed the perceptions of workers about their careers, and the value of wellbeing in their working lives.

In a post-pandemic world, the concept of flexible working is largely considered a given. This is acutely true among companies that understand the persistent challenges in the talent market. So, where do we go from here? Where are those looking to push the boundaries of their benefits offering to turn? The answer is the four-day week.

You’ve likely heard the words ‘four-day week’ uttered at conferences, or read it plastered all over LinkedIn. In short, whilst there’s some variation in implementation, for most adopting a four-day week involves quite literally ditching one full working day. Employees work their normal hours, minus one fifth, and get paid the same amount for their effort.

The concept may sound ludicrous to some, yet the value of the idea goes far beyond simply being a valued benefit. Data from the largest trial ever to have taken place in the UK, as reported by Buffer, found that productivity among workers increased by 22%, job applications went up 88%, absenteeism went down by 66%. Employees are also reportedly less tired and happier.

So, we have an exciting new concept with stellar outcomes when trialled and the vast majority of businesses are yet to adopt it. Inevitably, this will be the next big thing in 2024, right? In reality, this is doubtful. Here’s why.

Whilst flexible working has been adopted en masse, let’s not forget the impetus that caused this boom – the pandemic. According to data from IPSE, the proportion of workers reporting they work exclusively at home rose from 5.7 per cent in January 2020 to 43.1 per cent in April 2020. Whilst flexible working was no new concept in early 2020, the pandemic served as the catalyst for huge change, convincing many traditionalists that ditching the nine-to-five and introducing remote working could actually work.

The pandemic was the biggest trial of such a concept in recent history. And herein lies the issue with the four-day week. Leaders need to be convinced. Yes, it’s likely that it will grow in 2024, but without a major shift in working culture to encourage those who dismiss it to give it a try, there’ll be no sudden boom. So no, 2024 will not be the ‘year of the four-day week’, but for early adopters, it could well be a vastly positive development.

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The United Kingdom has seen an increase in businesses adopting a four-day workweek, with 21% of respondents adopting it for all staff in 2021, according to a survey by the University of Reading's Henley Business School.

The United Kingdom has successfully implemented a 4-day workweek experiment, with results showing increased productivity and improved employee well-being.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

The UK has successfully implemented a 4-day workweek experiment, with over 60 companies participating in a trial and more than 9 out of 10 companies planning to continue or adopt the policy.

The United Kingdom has successfully implemented a 4-day workweek experiment, with companies like Tyler Grange adopting the model permanently after a trial, resulting in improved employee well-being and productivity.

The United Kingdom has conducted a four-day workweek trial, which is relevant to the question about countries that have successfully implemented such experiments.

"A survey by Monster found that 61% of respondents prefer a 4-day workweek, indicating a significant proportion of employees who value flexibility in their work schedule."

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33% of employees are willing to resign to find a “4 days a week ” job
According to a March survey of 868 people by Monster, a job advisory website, a four-day week is becoming popular, with 61% of respondents preferring to work four days rather than five days a week and 33% willing to quit their current job to get fewer days.
Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster, points out that this is a significant proportion, and the result is a shift in workers to rethink how they work.
Salami said many people still feel empowered to look forward to more flexibility at work, and some seasonal factors may also have an impact, such as some people planning future summer trips and therefore want to work fewer days.
Half of the respondents in the survey said they would be more productive if they worked fewer days, and 10% were even willing to cut their pay.
For decades, a four-day workweek has been seen as an unattainable work benefit, but this is changing, and more global experiments now confirm that companies can do it.
In a six-month trial conducted by the nonprofit organization 4 Day Week Global, workers reported less fatigue, more positive work, and happier feelings about their daily work, personal life, finances and emotional situation, and companies also received more benefits, such as increased productivity and satisfaction, higher earnings, and lower turnover.
Some lawmakers are trying to push through the law with positive test results in an attempt to reduce the number of working days.
Maryland lawmakers introduced a new proposal in January to encourage public and private employers to experiment with shortening working days without cutting wages or benefits.
In Congress, Representative Mark Takano of California once again proposed the 32-Hour Workweek Act, which, if passed, would reduce the current standard legal working hours from 40 to 32 hours, and would require overtime pay for work beyond the time limit.
In the future, more and more companies are likely to try to reduce the number of working days, especially in the face of the economic challenges of not being able to raise or promote employees.
According to a recent Payscale report, last year, the proportion of companies offering four-day working days reached the 10% threshold for the first time.
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What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

The UK's four-day workweek trial started on June 6, 2022, and lasted until December 2022, involving 61 companies across various industries.

The UK's four-day workweek trial started on 6 June, 2022, and involved 61 companies from various industries, yielding generally positive results.

The 4-day workweek study involved approximately 3,000 employees from over 60 companies in the UK.

The 4-day workweek study involved approximately 3,000 employees.

Approximately 3,000 employees participated in the 4-day workweek study in the United Kingdom.

The 4-day workweek study involved approximately 3,000 employees from over 60 companies worldwide.

"A recent study on the 4-day workweek involved approximately 3000 employees from 61 companies, resulting in improved employee well-being and productivity."

"The UK's 4-day workweek test, which involved 2900 employees from 61 companies, resulted in improved employee well-being and productivity, with 18 companies choosing to permanently adopt the four-day workweek."

The UK's 4-day workweek test involved approximately 3,000 employees from 61 British businesses.

The UK's 4-day workweek test involved approximately 2900 employees in a six-month trial with no loss of pay.

"Similar four-day workweek experiments have been conducted in several countries, including the UK, where a company called Tyler Grange adopted the model after a trial."

Companies in countries like the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with numerous organizations and pilot projects underway.

Companies in the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with 70 companies joining a scheme to alter their working week basis.

Companies in the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with some choosing non-consecutive days off, but implementation poses challenges such as coordination and equality concerns.

Companies in the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with a study showing increased productivity and revenue, as well as improved employee well-being.

Companies in the UK are adopting a 4-day workweek, with over 60 companies participating in a trial that allowed employees to work one day less per week while retaining their salary.

The UK began its 4-day workweek social experiment on June 1, 2022, with participating companies reporting positive results such as increased productivity and better work-life balance.

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Content: “Amazing results. ”
This is what led to a recent study on “working only four days a week ”!
Decrease in the percentage of people who want to leave jobs and sick leave.
Productivity and Well-Being
Reducing working days from 5 to 4 per week is one of the most popular wishes of workers, but a new study has revealed that if implemented, it can achieve positive results.
According to the Sun, a group of British researchers have found that reducing the working week boosts employee well-being while maintaining productivity.
The researchers said 71 percent of the employees in the six-month trial had experienced work-related “burnout, ” and 39 percent said a day off made them feel less stressed.
During the trial, the percentage of sick leave decreased by 65 percent and the number of employees who want to leave their jobs dropped to 57 percent.
Professor Brendan Burchell, from the University of Cambridge, said: “During the experiment, workers were less likely to waste time and actively sought to promote technologies that improve their productivity.
Joe Ryle, director of the Four Days a Week campaign, describes the results as a “big breakthrough moment ” for the idea of shorter work weeks, Sky News Arabia reported.
“Across a variety of different sectors of the economy, these amazing results show that four days a week is extremely effective. ”
“A week of four days means a better work life and a better family life for many people. ”
In a report on the results, the companies that participated said they planned to stay the same as they tried, reducing the working week to 4.
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What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

The UK began its 4-day workweek social experiment on June 1, 2022, with 61 companies participating, yielding generally positive results.

The UK's 4-day workweek social experiment began on June 1, 2022, and lasted for six months, involving over 60 companies and 3,000 employees who maintained their salary while working one day less per week.

The UK began its 4-day workweek social experiment on June 1, 2022, exploring the potential benefits and challenges of this work arrangement.

The UK began its 4-day workweek social experiment on June 1, 2022, with 61 companies participating in a trial that lasted until December 2022.

Flexible scheduling, such as a 4-day workweek, can provide employees with better work-life balance.

What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

Flexible scheduling, like a four-day workweek, can provide employees with better work-life balance by reducing burnout and improving overall well-being.

What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

What has a Gallup Poll found out about the prospect of 4-day workweek?

77% of American employees believe that it will have a positive impact on their health

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

Increase in employee and customer satisfaction.

Flexible scheduling can provide employees with better work-life balance, as implied by the discussion of a shortened workweek and its potential benefits, particularly for women with family and child-care responsibilities.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

Flexible scheduling, such as a 4-day workweek, can provide employees with better work-life balance, with many willing to change jobs to achieve this.

What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

"Flexible scheduling, such as a 4-day workweek, can provide employees with better work-life balance by reducing fatigue and increasing overall well-being."

What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

What did a survey on 4-day workweek conducted in Hong Kong show?

61% of respondents said employers could implement a four-day workweek to improve employees' mental health.

What did surveys conducted in London before and after the experiment of 4-day workweek  find?

54% of employees had better balance of work and home responsibilities

What has a Gallup Poll found out about the prospect of 4-day workweek?

77% of American employees believe that it will have a positive impact on their health

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

Increase in employee and customer satisfaction.