A trial of the four-day working week in the UK has shown positive results, with employees reporting increased happiness, productivity, and better work-life balance. The sixty-one companies that took part in the trial reduced their working week from five to four days without reducing salaries.
During the trial, which was carried out for a period of six months, employees reported a reduction in stress levels and an increase in physical and mental health with more time to spend with family and pursue hobbies. The participating companies also reported a decrease in absenteeism and an increase in staff retention.
The trial formed part of a growing movement towards the four-day week, which unions and campaigners have advocated as a way to improve work-life balance and address issues such as stress and burnout. The concept has gained traction in recent years, with companies in New Zealand and Iceland successfully implementing the four-day week pattern.
The success of the recent trial is likely to provide a boost to advocates of the four-day week in the UK and elsewhere. However, some employers may be cautious about adopting the model, citing concerns about reduced productivity or increased costs.
The UK Government has also expressed interest in the concept of the four-day week, with Labour leader Keir Starmer endorsing the idea and the Conservative Government conducting its own review of the proposal. Although there are currently no plans to introduce a four-day week at a national level, the proposal to implement a maximum of 32 working hours per week in the UK was debated in Parliament in October 2022.
Overall, the recent trial provides compelling evidence of the benefits of the four-day week, and employers may wish to consider the model as a way to improve employee satisfaction and productivity. However, any implementation of the four-day week must be carefully planned and managed to ensure that it is sustainable and effective in the long term.
Feel free to contact our solicitors for advice if you have questions about the legal implications of requesting or implementing a four-day week in your workplace.
Mark Lafferty is a senior employment law solicitor at DPH Legal. Mark acts in the employment tribunal for respondents and claimants alike and also has extensive litigation experience in the Employment Appeals Tribunal, County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. He has experience in dealing with TUPE, Unfair Dismissals and discrimination. In the past, Mark has held lecturing posts at Warwick University and the city of Oxford college. Mark has a long-standing membership within the Employment Lawyers Association and The Law Society. To contact Mark, visit the Contact Us page. For media enquiries: info@dphlegal.com