Firms in four-day week trial will make it permanenton September 20, 2022 at 2:46 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Many companies taking part in the scheme say productivity has been maintained or improved.

Woman workingImage source, Getty Images

Many UK firms taking part in a four-day working week trial have said they will keep it in place after the pilot ends.

More than 70 firms are taking part in the scheme where employees get 100% pay for 80% of their normal hours worked.

At the halfway point in a six-month trial, data shows that productivity has been maintained or improved at the majority of firms.

Though some “old-fashioned” companies taking part in the trial had found the shift to a four-day week “trickier”.

Joe O’Connor, chief executive of 4 Week Global, which is running the scheme across a number of countries, 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.”

The trial is being run by 4 Day Week, a group campaigning for a shorter working week, along with Autonomy, a think tank and researchers at Cambridge and Oxford universities.

Of the 73 companies in the trial, 41 firms responded to a survey midway through the scheme. Around 86% of those surveyed said they would keep the four-day week policy going after the trial ends.

The majority of firms said it is working well for their business, while 95% said productivity had stayed the same or improved during the shorter week.

More than 3,300 employees are getting one paid day off per week through the course of the trial.

4 Day Week said that employees had benefitted from lower commuting and childcare costs and claimed that a parent with two children would save £3,232.40 on average per year or roughly £269.36 per month.

Will Stronge, director of research at Autonomy, said: “A four-day week with no loss of pay could play a crucial role in supporting workers to make ends meet over the next few years.”

Major change

Waterwise, which campaigns to decrease how much water is used in the UK, is one of the firms taking part in the scheme and says its team are now “pretty happy” – but it took some getting used to.

“It wasn’t a walk in the park at the start.” said Waterwise managing director Nicci Russell. “But no major change ever is.

“We have all had to work at it,” she said. “Some weeks are easier than others and things like annual leave can make it harder to fit everything in, but we’re much more settled with it now overall than we were at the start.”

“We certainly all love the extra day out of the office and do come back refreshed. It’s been great for our wellbeing and we’re definitely more productive already.”

The UK trial is part of pilots happening in the US, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Manchester City complain to Liverpool about fan allegedly spitting at member of staffon October 3, 2021 at 7:18 pm

Manchester City make a complaint to Liverpool after alleging a home fan spat at their backroom staff during the 2-2 draw at Anfield.

Turkey-Syria earthquake: UK charities to launch DEC disaster appealon February 8, 2023 at 5:16 pm

More than 11,000 people have died and thousands have lost homes following the earthquake.More than 11,000 people have died and thousands have lost homes...

Ethiopia conflict: Looking for clues in video of forgotten massacreon November 7, 2022 at 1:39 am

As a truce is agreed in Ethiopia's bitter civil war, we investigate a massacre caught on video.As a truce is agreed in Ethiopia's bitter...

G20: Climate and Covid top agenda as world leaders meeton October 30, 2021 at 11:02 am

The G20 leaders are holding their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the pandemic.Image source, ReutersClimate change and Covid are top of the...

Church of England announces £100m fund after slavery linkson January 10, 2023 at 10:05 pm

It is "time to take action to address our shameful past," says the Archbishop of Canterbury.Image source, PA MediaBy Rachel RussellBBC NewsThe Church of...