Four-day week trial with no loss of pay begins for workers in 70 UK companies
More than 3,000 workers at 70 UK companies will begin a four-day week with no loss of pay in a trial lasting six months. Organisers say it is the biggest four-day week pilot to take place anywhere in the world. Firms taking part will take part in the 100:80:100 model - which means that workers will get 100% of their pay for only 80% of the time but must commit to maintaining at least 100% of productivity.
Ed Siegel, chief executive of Charity Bank, which is taking part in the trial, said: “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 20th-century concept of a five-day working week is no longer the best fit for 21st-century business."
Other companies taking part provide products and services ranging from education to workplace consultancy; banking; care; building and construction recruitment services; food and beverage and hospitality, amongst others.
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know
The trial is being organised by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week UK Campaign, and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.
Juliet Schor, professor of sociology at Boston College, and lead researcher on the pilot, said: “We’ll be analysing how employees respond to having an extra day off, in terms of stress and burnout, job and life satisfaction, health, sleep, energy use, travel and many other aspects of life.
Researchers will work with each participating organisation to measure the impact on productivity and the wellbeing of its workers, as well as the impact on the environment and gender equality. Joe O’Connor, chief executive 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."
Ed Siegel, chief executive of Charity Bank, which is taking part in the trial, said: “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.”