Insurance firm trials 4 day working week- without loss of pay

An insurance broker which employs around 500 people is trialling a four-day working week in Northampton without a loss of pay for its call centre staff.

Simply Business, which sells insurance to landlords and small businesses, announced on twitter will launch the trial in September at its Northampton contact centre in the hope it will boost productivity.

Jason Stockwood, the company's former chief executive and now vice chairman, has previously said that UK firms should allow staff to work four-day weeks and ward off an "epidemic of mental health issues".

The acclaimed technology entrepreneur said last year: "Let's work a bit less.Let's have another change in society. The four-day week could be a next chapter in giving people more freedom."

The Trades Union Congress has previously said moves should be made to cut the working week to four days over the course of this century.