Thousands of employees at 61 companies have questioned what they will do with an extra day off every week. They participated in the world’s largest four-day work week trial, and the study found overwhelmingly positive results.
Of the 61 companies in the UK, 56 (92%) said they will continue with the four-day week, with 18 confirming that the policy is now a permanent change, a significant victory for improved work-life balance.
The study was organised by 4 Day Week Global, an advocacy group, in cooperation with Autonomy, a research group, and researchers from Boston College and the University of Cambridge.
Around 2,900 employees took part in the UK-based study, which lasted from June to December 2022 and covered a variety of industries, including non-profits, manufacturers, and finance firms, as well as fish-and-chip shops.
According to the findings of a study published on Tuesday, 21 February, some of the most comprehensive benefits of shortened working hours were discovered in the general increase in employee well-being.
Most businesses concluded that productivity did not decline and that revenues increased by 35% on average over prior years.
“Staff is getting more work done in less time,” Paul Oliver, chief executive officer at Citizens Advice Gateshead.
At the conclusion of the six-month experiment, “before and after” statistics revealed that 39% of workers were less stressed, and 71% had lower levels of burnout. Correspondingly, levels of anxiety, fatigue, and sleep problems are also reduced.
Employees were also less likely to resign as a consequence of the four-day work week strategy.
Data also revealed that the benefits of a four-day week were worth their weight in money. According to 15% of employees, no amount of money would persuade them to return to the usual 5-day work week.
Overall, the employees had a positive experience with the four-day week trial.
From 0 (very bad) to 10 (very good), the average score was 9.04 based on the trial’s result.
When questioned whether they would want to continue with the four-day week trial, 90% replied “Yes/Definitely want to continue”, with only five individuals (0.43%) stating that they “somewhat do not want to continue”.
However, no one stated that they “definitely do not want to continue”.
The trial proved that it had a significant effect on people’s lives both inside and outside of work.
In conclusion, the trial discovered that an extra day off every week provides a better work-life balance for employees at no additional expense to businesses.
On the other side of the story, this Indian company starts to fine employees if they disturb their fellow coworkers on their vacation:
