The world’s largest four-day work week pilot project concluded and results showed it was an overwhelming success.
Sixty-one U.K. companies and nearly 3,000 employees participated in the pilot project by 4 Day Week Global, a non-profit coalition.
“A hundred years ago, we moved from working six day weeks to five, and we’re overdue for an update. The 4 day week is a reduction in the work week from a standard 40 hours to 32 hours for the same pay and benefits. This reduction has been proven to work for employees and employers,” 4 Day Week Global’s website reads.
The results of the pilot project were an overwhelming success, with 92 per cent of companies continuing the four-day work week after the pilot project ended.
Employees with four-day work weeks reported being happier and less stressed. It was a win for companies as well, with their revenue rising by an average of 35 per cent compared to previous years.
Sixty-three per cent of businesses found it easier to attract and retain talent with a four-day week. The number of staff leaving companies decreased by 57 per cent.
There were also 65 per cent fewer sick days reported.
“We encourage business, employees, researchers, and government to all play their part in creating a new way of working which will improve business productivity, worker health outcomes, stronger families and communities, challenge the gender equality issue, and work towards a more sustainable work environment.”
The pilot was a six-month trial of a four-day week, with no loss in pay for employees. It was coordinated in partnership with researchers at Cambridge University and Boston College, together with local researchers in each region.
