A FOUR-day work week is fast becoming a trend in the UK as firms seek ways to boost productivity and attract the best talent.
Today a landmark trial has been called a “major breakthrough” with staff on full pay while working one day a week less.
A total of 18 companies have opted to make the 4-day work week permanentGetty – Contributor
It’s been announced 18 UK companies have made the change permanent following the world’s biggest trial of four day working.
The trial saw 61 companies across a variety of sectors in the UK commit to reducing their working hours for all staff by 20%, for six months from June last year.
At least 56 out of the 61 firms that took part said they plan to continue with the four-day working week and have extended for either six months or a year.
Academics at the University of Cambridge and the US’s Boston College carried out the research.
While the trial was co-ordinated by 4 Day Week Global, in partnership with think tank Autonomy and campaign group 4 Day Week Campaign.
The results revealed a significant drop in the rates of stress and illness among the around 2,900 staff trying the shorter working week.
They also found that company revenue increased slightly by 1.4% on average over the trial period, and by a much higher 35% when compared to the same six-month period in 2021.
However, several staff at one large company reported concerns about increasing workloads, finding their work intensified or they were battling to work through lengthy to-do lists in the time available.
The results also revealed that some managers and staff felt the focus on efficiency had made the workplace less sociable, which was a particular concern for the creative companies involved.
Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, said the trial is “major breakthrough moment” for the campaign towards a four-day working 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”, Mr Ryle said.
Organisations across a range of industries took part.
Eight firms were in the marketing and advertising sector, followed by seven in professional services such as an asset management firm in Liverpool and an insurer in London.
Five firms in the charity and non-profit sector took part, including Citizens Advice in Gateshead.
There were also firms in the education, finance, healthcare and online retail sectors involved – and even a fish and chip shop in Norfolk.
Most firms chose to give all their staff Fridays off, while some said they could take Monday or Friday, and others opted for no common day off among staff.
The benefits for employers include reduced sickness absence and lower staff turnover, slashing recruitment costs.
It also attracts talented candidates who want a better work-life balance.
The campaigners and academics will present the results at an event in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Which UK employers are took part in the trial?
There were around 61 companies and organisations in the pilot but only 46 have agreed to be named publicly.
A total of 45 of the companies have opted to continue the trial for between six months to a year.
They include:
24/Three Consultants – Construction / Architecture (Rushden, Northamptonshire)5 Squirrels – Health Manufacturing and Retail (Brighton and Hove)Adzooma – Tech/Advertising (Nottingham, Manchester and London)AKA Case Management – Domiciliary Care (Nottingham, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester)Amplitude Media Limited – Marketing (Northampton)Ascendancy – Marketing (Newport, Shropshire)Bedrock Learning Ltd – Software / Education (Norwich)Bookishly – Retail (Northamptonshire)Boom! Studios – Creative (Bangor)Charity Bank – Banking (Tonbridge, Kent)Citizens Advice Gateshead – Not for profit (Gateshead, Tyne)Clarkson and Woods Limited – Environmental consulting (Somerset)Debt Justice – Not for profit (London)Everledger – Technology (London, Birmingham, Manchester (and global)Evolution Money – Financial Services (Manchester)Flatpack – Not for profit (Birmingham)Furness Insurance Services – Insurance (London)Frame 25 – Recruitment, Broadcasting & Media (Oxford)Happy – Learning (London)Helping Hands – Housing/Health and Social Care (Alcester, Warwickshire & branches nationwide)Hutch – Games (London)Kingston First – Not for profit (London)Knights Absorb – Education provider (Guildford)Literal Humans – Marketing/Advertising (London)Loudmouth Media – Digital Marketing (Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow, London)Merthyr Valley Homes – Housing (Merthyr Tydfil, Wales)Mox London – Creative Agency (London)Outcomes Based Healthcare – Healthcare Analytics (London)Outcomes First Group – Care and Education services (Bolton)Plattens Fish and Chips – Hospitality (Wells-next-the-sea, Norfolk)Pressure Drop Brewing – Brewing / manufacturing (London)Rivelin Robotics – Digital Manufacturing (Sheffield)Royal Society of Biology – Science & charity (London)Scotland’s International Development Alliance – Not for profit (Edinburgh)Sensat – Construction Software (London)SideQuest Ltd – VR / Gaming (Belfast)Sounds Like These – Audio Production (London)Stellar Asset Management – Finance (Liverpool)Stemettes – Social enterprise (London)TBL Services – Consultancy (Lancaster)The Story Mob – Comms & PR Consultancy / Video games (London)Trio Media – Digital Marketing (Leeds and London)Tyler Grange – Environmental Consulting (Rendcomb, Cirencester)Unity – PR and communications (London)Waterwise – Not for profit (London)We Are Purposeful – Not for profit (London)
Which companies have made the four day week permanent?
Here’s a list of the UK firms who took part in the trial and decided to make it permanent:
Hutch Tyler GrangeWe Are PurposefulInfigoRoyal Society of Biology Happy5 SquirrelsUnity MarketingTrio MediaAscendancyTBL ServicesFrame 25Rivelin Robotics Literal Humans
There are another three which have also made the move permanent but they have not been named publicly.
Which companies were already on a four day week?
Here’s a list of the UK firms offering a four day week on full pay:
3D Issue – printing software firm in DonegalAdvice Direct Scotland – non-profit in GlasgowAtom Bank – finance firm in DurhamAutonomy – think tank researching the future of workAwin – consultancy firmBig Potato Games – board games maker in East LondonBlink – Norwich e-commerce firmCanon – Edinburgh-based UK arm of the global camera giantCMG Technologies – Suffolk 3D metal moulding firmCauseway Irish Housing Association – London non-profitCharlton Norris – recruitment firm in LeedsCrystallised – Newcastle marketing agencyEarth Science Partnership – research group in CardiffElektra Lighting – London lighting consultantsEvolved – online marketing specialists in the North EastFlocc – Cambridge and London-based marketing agencyGeeks For Social Change – Manchester software developersGracefruit – Glasgow cosmetics firmThe Landmark Hotel London – upmarket hotel in MaryleboneLegacy Events – management agency in OxfordMRL – Brighton recruiters specialising in tech and financePeople and Transformational HR – Nortants design and marketing consultancyPunch Creative – boutique digital marketing agency in LeedsReboot – Hertfordshire ad agencyResiliance Brokers – climate finance firm based in LondonReward Agency – Manchester ad agencyStop Aids – London HIV charitySinister Fish Games – Lincoln-based board game makersSocial Enterprise Direct – Glasgow finance firmSofter Success – consultancy and training provider in LondonStreamGo – Sunderland-based indie events platformT-Cup Studios – Bath boutique consultancyTarget Publishing – Essex indie publishersTechnovent – high-tech medical services supplier in South WalesThe Circle – hub for charities and non-profits in DundeeThe UPAC group – Glasgow packing firmVenture Stream – Newcastle marketing agencyYWCA Scotland – young women’s movement based in Glasgow
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