Following the first global trial of a four-day working week, which kicked off at the beginning of June 2022 and was run by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with Autonomy, the 4 Day Week Foundation, and researchers at University of Cambridge and Boston College, the 4 Day Week Foundation has announced that 200 employers have made the move permanently.
Employers participating in that first trial saw results including:
maintained performance and productivity, despite working one day less a week
a decrease in employees suffering from stress, and 71% of employees reporting lower levels of burnout
improvements in employee anxiety and fatigue levels, and a reduction in sleep issues among participants
measures of work-life balance improved
average revenue increases of 1.4% and reports of health growth
a substantial decline (57%) in the likelihood that an employee would quit
a 65% reduction in the number of sick days.
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Combined, that means over 5000 people are now working a shorter working week with no reduction in pay, seeing an increase of 50% in their free time, giving them more time to spend with friends, family, or, in some cases, at second jobs.
Of the organisations committing to the changes, those in industries such as marketing, advertising and PR were most represented, followed by charities, NGOs and social care.
Another trial kicked off in November last year, with 17 employers taking part. The findings are expected to be reported this summer.
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