4-day working week trial in the UK: shorter hours, happier employees

LONDON (AP) – Work less, earn more.

A trial of a four-day workweek in Britain, billed as the world’s largest, found that an overwhelming majority of the 61 companies that took part for six months last year continued with shorter hours and that most employees were less stressed and burned out. was out and about Good work-life balance.

According to the results released this week, the companies reported that the same period in the June to December 2022 trial period was the same and even increased compared to the six months a year earlier.

“We’re really encouraged by the results, which show that there are many ways that companies can turn the four-day week from a dream into a practical policy,” said David Frayne, a research associate at the University of Cambridge who helped lead the team conducting employee interviews for the trial. “We think there’s a lot here that should inspire other companies and industries to try this.”

The university team worked with researchers from Boston College; Autonomy, a research firm focused on the future of work; And a 4-day week for the global nonprofit community to see how companies from industries spanning marketing to finance nonprofits and their 2,900 employees will respond to reduced work hours while salaries remain the same.

Not surprisingly, employees reported benefits, with 71% saying they were less burned out, 39% saying they were less stressed and 48% saying they were more satisfied with their jobs than before the trial.

Among workers, 60% said it was easier to balance work and responsibilities at home, while 73% reported increased satisfaction with their lives. Studies have shown that fatigue is reduced, people sleep more and mental health improves.

Firms that created fewer working hours — whether one fewer work day a week or more hours for part of the year and fewer hours the rest of the time for an average 32-hour week — were unaffected in revenue, the results showed.

The story continues

For the 23 companies that provided sufficient data, revenue increased by 1.4% during the trial — weighted for business size — while a separate 24 companies saw revenue increase by more than 34% compared to the same six months a year ago.

Employees are less likely to quit, 57% less than the same period a year ago, as well as those calling in sick, 65% less than a year ago.

Among companies, 92% said they would continue with the four-day workweek, with 30% saying it was a permanent change.

“Not only do these results demonstrate that the UK pilot program was a resounding success, but it is encouraging to note that they largely mirror the results of our previous trials in Ireland and the US, further strengthening the arguments for the four-day week,” added 4 Day Week Global. -Founder and Managing Director Charlotte Lockhart said.

Of course, there are industries that cannot operate shorter hours because they require around-the-clock staff, such as hospitals and first responders. Many others have become such workers Leaving the job in the UK Demands for better working conditions and salaries in recent months have kept pace with the higher cost of living.

The The pandemic has changed the way the world worksWith people looking for greater flexibility to improve work-life balance.