A four-day work week pilot program in the UK–the largest such experiment so far–has been a resounding success, with 92% of organizations planning to continue to keep their work weeks at four days after employees reported better stress levels, a better work-life balance and better productivity during those four days.
The study was conducted by Autonomy, a group of independent researchers from Boston College, University College Dublin, University of Cambridge, University of Salford and Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Organizations that participated in the study were required to meaningfully reduce their employees working time, but were not required to rigidly deploy one type of working reduction. Each company designed a policy that worked for its particular industry, organizational challenges, structure and culture. Some included Fridays off, while others were staggered, decentralized, annualized and conditional.
According to the report, the trial was a “resounding success,” with 56 of the 61 participating organizations opting to continue with the four-day week. Further, 18 are keeping their new work structure permanently.
Well-being improves
The main benefits were found in employees’ mental health, with data showing that 39% of employees reported feeling less stressed, and 71% reported reduced levels of burnout at the end of the trial. Similarly, levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues all fell, leading to improved mental and physical health.
Unsurprisingly, work-life balance was also improved, with 62% of employees saying it was easier to balance their work with family and social commitments. More than half (54%) said it was easier to balance work with household jobs, and employees also said they were more satisfied with household finances, relationships and how their time was being managed.
Employee turnover reduces
With happier and more engaged employees, the rate of employee turnover dropped significantly, researchers say. According to the study, the number of staff leaving participating companies dropped by 57% over the trial, with employees saying the positive effects and a better work-life balance outweighed the prospects of finding a better-paying job.
Further, 15% of employees said that no amount of money could convince them to go back to working five days a week.
Business metrics improve
While employee well-being may be the main driver behind these policies, it can also benefit the business, the study found, as revenue stayed broadly the same over the trial period, even rising by 1.4% on average, weighted by company size.
However, when compared to a similar period from previous years, participating organizations reported revenue increases of 35% on average, suggesting that healthier, more engaged employees lead directly to better business outcomes.
A ‘major breakthrough’
In a statement, Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, called the study a major breakthrough for the movement towards a shorter work week.
“Across a wide variety of different sectors of the economy, these incredible results show that the four-day week with no loss of pay really works,” Ryle says. “Surely the time has now come to begin rolling it out across the country.”
The results mirror the group’s similar trials in Ireland and the U.S., says Charlotte Lockhart, 4 Day Week Global co-founder and managing director.
“While the impacts on business performance and worker wellbeing are expected and welcome, it’s particularly interesting to observe the diversity in findings across various industries,” Lockhart says. “These results, combined with our previous research demonstrate that non-profit and professional service employees had a larger increase in time spent exercising, while the small group of construction/manufacturing workers had the biggest reduction in burnout and sleep problems. Certainly something to explore further in future pilots.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
Leave a Reply