Hundreds of British workers will soon have greater flexibility over their hours as part of a new pilot project to drive a formal four-day working week.
This six-month project, which builds on the initial 2022 pilot, will explore different flexible working models, including flexible start and finish times, nine-day work weeks, and compressed working hours.
Six companies have already joined the campaign, which aims to engage around 3,000 employees and 50 businesses. Backed by the UK’s largest union, Unison, and several major companies, the trial aims to boost work-life balance and productivity. However, some companies have previously abandoned the four-day week after initial trials.
“Hundreds of UK businesses and one local council have already shown that a four-day working week without loss of pay can be a win-win for workers and employers,” said Joe Ryle, campaign director. Backed by research from the University of Cambridge and Boston College, the latest trial involves participants such as Welsh community housing owner Bron Avon. Director Onji Mathur was impressed by the positive impact on organisational performance, staff wellbeing and retention.
The campaign group said that “at least 54” of the 61 companies that participated in the initial trial continued with the four-day work week a year and a half later.
Four-Day Week: Success or Failure?
Sophie Greaves, a research chemist in Liverpool, appreciates the flexibility her job gives her when it comes to starting and finishing work. She can start work anytime between 7am and 10am and finish eight hours later, which she finds helpful for managing her time. “People are really productive if they can manage their time,” she says.
But not all experiments involving shorter working hours have been successful. Asda recently scrapped a four-day workweek trial after staff found the longer shifts too stressful. Their plan was for store managers to work 45 hours over four days, which proved unpopular compared with other parts of the trial that included a five-day, 39-hour week.
Similarly, Morrisons ended a four-day working week trial at its Bradford headquarters in January. Staff were required to work 37.5 hours over four days, with occasional Saturday shifts. “It’s not really a four-day week,” said Joe Ryle, who defines it as 32 hours over four days.
By contrast, some countries are considering longer work weeks to boost productivity. Greece recently introduced a six-day week for certain industries, and offered workers a 40% pay rise for overtime. The policy applies to companies that operate 24 hours a day, and is optional for workers.
Mr Ryle intends to present the results of this second pilot to the newly elected Labour government next year. He said: “With a new Labour government, change is on the horizon and we hope to see employers embrace this change by signing up to our pilot.”
