Four-day week: 'major breakthrough' as most UK firms in trial extend changes
Short summary
The world's largest four-day working week trial, run in the UK over six months in 2022, ended with 56 of the 61 participating companies keeping the shorter week and 18 making it permanent. Employees worked 80% of their hours for 100% of their pay in exchange for a promise to maintain 100% of their output.
- About 2,900 employees across 61 companies took part, from marketing agencies to a fish and chip shop.
- Company revenue rose 1.4% on average over the trial, and staff turnover fell by 57% compared with the same period a year earlier.
- 39% of employees said they were less stressed, and 71% reported reduced burnout.
- The trial was organised by 4 Day Week Global with researchers from Cambridge, Oxford and Boston College.
Full summary
The UK four-day week pilot ran from June to December 2022 and was the largest of its kind, with 61 companies and about 2,900 employees. Participants ranged from a brewery and a fish and chip shop to software firms and a housing association. The deal was 100-80-100: full pay, 80% of the hours, and a commitment to keep output at 100%.
At the end of the six months, 56 companies said they would continue with the four-day week, and 18 had already made it permanent. Only three said they were not continuing. Revenue across the companies that provided data rose by 1.4% on average during the trial, and by 35% compared with the same period in 2021, though the researchers caution that the wider economic context makes the comparison rough.
Staff effects were the headline. Resignations fell by 57% compared with the previous year, sick days fell by around two-thirds, and 71% of employees reported lower levels of burnout. Some companies found the transition harder: those with complex shift patterns or customer-facing hours had to redesign rotas rather than simply drop a day. The researchers, led by Cambridge sociologist Brendan Burchell and Boston College's Juliet Schor, said the results were strong but noted that the firms had volunteered, so they may not represent employers generally.