Thousands of UK workers are starting a four-day working week trial from today.
The pilot, said to be the largest of its kind, has been organised by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with the think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week Campaign and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.
The trial is centred around the 100:80:100 model where workers receive 100% of their pay for working 80% of their usual hours, while maintaining 100% of their productivity.
More than 3,300 employees from 70 companies – ranging from chip shops to large financial firms – are participating in the trial.
Researchers will work with the organisations involved to focus on the well-being of workers, as well as the impact on productivity, gender equality and the environment.
Joe O Connor, CEO of 4 Day Week Global, said: “The UK is at the crest of a wave of global momentum behind the four-day week.
“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.
“The impact of the ‘great resignation’ is now proving that workers from a diverse range of industries can produce better outcomes while working shorter and smarter.”
Ed Siegel, Chief Executive of Charity Bank which is involved in the pilot, added: “We have long been a champion of flexible working, but the pandemic really moved the goalposts in this regard. For Charity Bank, the move to a four-day week seems a natural next step.
“The 20th-century concept of a five-day working week is no longer the best fit for 21st-century business. We firmly believe that a four-day week with no change to salary or benefits will create a happier workforce and will have an equally positive impact on business productivity, customer experience and our social mission.”
The trial is set to run for the next six months.
[Image: r.classen via Shutterstock]