Thousands of workers across the UK are starting a four-day working schedule this week with no loss in pay, in what has been described as the world’s biggest trial of a new working pattern.
Some experts have raised concerns over the intensification of work as a result of a compressed working week, with implications for the cybersecurity industry where more than a third of workers are considering quitting their jobs due to burnout. However, recent survey data on the experience of participating businesses in the UK signal how both bosses and employees are reaping the benefits of a four-day work week.
The UK trial, which started yesterday, involves 3,300 workers at 70 organisations, including brewery Pressure Drop and the Royal Society of Biology. Set up by the non-profit 4 Day Week Global organisation, the trial will last for six months and measure the impact the change has on productivity and employee well-being.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, more and more companies are recognising that the new frontier for competition is quality of life, and that reduced-hour, output-focused working is the vehicle to give them a competitive edge,” said Joe O’Connor, chief executive of 4 Day Week Global.
Which countries have trialed four-day working weeks?
Advocates of the four-day work week have long argued that a shortened week increases productivity and evidence from across the globe appears to support this. Similar pilot schemes are already taking place in the US, Spain, and Ireland, while a trial in Scotland was announced last year by the Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon and is currently underway.
In Iceland, workers took part in a four-day working week pilot scheme between 2015 to 2019 in which researchers from the UK think tank Autonomy found that productivity remained the same or improved in the majority of companies that participated. Another oft-cited example of the benefits of a four-day work week is Microsoft’s 2019 trial in Japan, which reportedly resulted in a 40% rise in productivity.
Would a four-day working week improve productivity in the UK?
Implementing a four-day work week also appears to give companies an edge over their competitors in an ongoing war for talent. Earlier this year, the Durham-based fintech company Atom Bank saw a 500% increase in job applications after it announced a four-day week with no pay cut for its employees.
But academics from the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre have raised concerns over how a shortened work week might lead to the intensification of work and increased stress, as a result of squeezing the same amount of work into less time. “By focusing so strongly on the where and when of work, policymakers appear to have lost sight of how and how much we are working,” they wrote.
“It can hardly be sustainable or reasonable to expect already frazzled employees to keep working to existing workloads with one fewer day a week, which is why, while we support four-day workweek initiatives, employers need to be aware of two important factors,” the researchers said.
The group of academics suggested how employers need to consider revising or reducing workloads before reducing working hours, and how work could “become even more intense and stressful for workers, even if there are productivity benefits to be had.”
A study of a company based in New Zealand that piloted the four-day work week in 2018 also found that while some workers enjoyed the faster pace of work, others felt the increased urgency and pressure caused “heightened stress levels, leaving them in need of the additional day off to recover from work intensity”.
In the UK however, a more recent survey of 500 business leaders conducted by researchers at the Henley Business School found that more than a third of companies believed their employees were more productive, and that more work could be done because of the increased productivity. When compared to a previous iteration of the survey in 2019, the figures for the first question remained the same while the latter increased by 1%, which signals business confidence in the merits of a four-day work week.
The study also found that participating businesses were collectively saving £104 billion by offering a four-day work week. Business leaders were asked to estimate the impact of offering employees a four-day week on their bottom line, from running costs to changes in productivity.
“Responding positively to the call for greater flexibility could be of huge benefit to the workplace and the greatest silver lining to come from a pandemic that has brought such hardship to many,” said Dr Rita Fontinha, associate professor in strategic human resource management at the Henley Business School.
“Businesses need to better understand their employees’ desires and aspirations, to enable them to recruit the best people and to keep those people happier and more productive in the workplace.”
Read more: Working in the metaverse: Why 3D virtual collaboration is still ‘ten years away’
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More than 90% of participating businesses have opted to continue with the four day week, with 18 adopting it permanently. Similar experiments have taken place elsewhere in the world with positive results. Supporters say the four day work week boosts productivity, but critics say it is impractical in certain sectors.
The world's largest trial of a four-day working week, involving 61 UK companies, found substantial decreases in stress and burnout among employees. Nearly 39% of participants reported being less stressed, and the number of sick days taken dropped by around two-thirds.
With fewer days in the office, employees are often more focused and motivated to complete their tasks efficiently, reducing procrastination and time wasted during the workday. Competitive advantage for hiring: A four-day workweek is also a competitive advantage for employees.
Almost all (96%) of staff said their personal life had benefited, and 86% felt they performed better at work, while 38% felt their organisation had become more efficient, and 24% said it had helped with caring responsibilities. Organisations reduced working hours by an average of 6.6 hours to reach a 31.6-hour week.
Results from a 2022 six-month four-day week trial promoted by campaign group 4 Day Week Global and involving 61 companies in the UK showed that they saw an increase in their average revenues, while 71% of employees reported a decrease in burnout, according to a report.
With more time for leisure activities, family, and self-care, employees may experience reduced stress levels and increased job satisfaction. Moreover, adopting a four-day workweek can have positive environmental implications. Fewer workdays mean less commuting, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and pollution.
Is the U.S. on the cusp of a big shift to four-day workweeks? No.Of the 482 managers at firms that don't currently offer four-day workweeks, two-thirds said there is no chance their firms will offer them by the end of 2024. The other one-third say the chances are only 16 percent, on average.
Pros of a 4-day work week can include cost savings, increased productivity, and employee retention. Some disadvantages, however, can include scheduling challenges, reduced productivity, and added stress.
Our research has shown revenue increases up to 35% for a six-month pilot of the four-day work week, when compared to a similar financial period. Revenue continues to improve for longer trials of the four day work week, proving its not just a short-term phenomenon.
Companies who have tested out the 4-day work week—whether those days were 10 hours long or 8 hours long—saw increased productivity. Even with reduced hours, employees were able to be more productive during working hours because they were well-rested and more fulfilled in their lives outside of work.
Working only 4 days/week might sound attractive but the results might leave employees with a packed day with more meetings. This implies far more intensity - which indeed means stress and burnout. Employers will ultimately demand more dedication during the four days.
The research conducted before and after the trial revealed that 39% of employees experienced lower stress levels and 71% noticed less burnout while working shorter weeks. Anxiety, fatigue, and sleep issues all decreased while physical and mental health significantly improved.
Belgium became the first country in Europe to legislate for a four-day week. In February 2022, Belgian employees won the right to perform a full workweek in four days instead of the usual five without loss of salary.
It's been good for business, the company says: Productivity increased by 22%, job applications are up 88%, absenteeism is down by 66%, their carbon footprint is down with people driving less for work, and employees are less tired and happier.
Employees' physical and mental health improves when organizations embrace a shorter workweek. Research shows people are less stressed, value their jobs more, and have better lives outside of work. Job satisfaction and employee engagement increase.
Many businesses have found a four-day work week reduces variable expenses and overhead. By offering a four-day work week, you can potentially adjust the pay each week. If employees work fewer hours, employers will pay one full day's wage less.
The new law came into force a year earlier, allowing employees to decide whether to work four or five days a week. But this does not mean they will be working less – they will simply condense their working hours into fewer days.
The general theory behind a shorter week is that happier, more fulfilled employees are therefore more focused on their job when actually in the workplace. Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand firm trialled a four day week. The results found that 78% of employees could more effectively balance their work and home life.
Pilot studies in countries including the U.K., Spain, Portugal, and South Africa suggest that shorter workweeks can help employees reduce burnout, manage stress, get more sleep and exercise, spend additional quality time with loved ones, and feel all-around happier and healthier.
Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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