Employers report fewer sick days, increase in revenue
The latest four-day work week pilot in the United Kingdom has achieved a 100% success rate, with all participating employers set to continue the working model after the trial.
The pilot, organised by the 4 Day Week Foundation, ran for six weeks starting in November and included 17 British businesses that have between five and 400 employees.
"The results of our latest four-day week pilot are confirmed, and I'm proud to say we've achieved 100% success rate," said Joe Ryle, campaign director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, in a video uploaded on Facebook.
All of the companies involved in the latest UK trial are continuing the four-day work week at the end of it, according to the campaign director.
The extension follows positive feedback from employees regarding the four-day work week, according to reports.
Findings from Boston College about the UK trial showed that 62% of 89 employees who participated in the pilot experienced less burnout.
Nearly half of those who were surveyed also said they felt "most satisfied with life," The Guardian reported.
Employers who participated in the trial also noted some benefits, such as an increase in revenue and fewer sick days, CNN reported.
"Staff well-being is up. Business performance and productivity up, job retention and recruitment also up," Ryle said.
"These businesses are absolutely thriving and so are their employees. This is the future of work. We proved it again and again. The four-day week works. It's time to make it a new normal."
The 100% success rate comes after an overwhelmingly positive response to the UK's previous four-day week trial in 2022.
The trial, the world's biggest ever four-day working week pilot, saw 92% of the 61 participating companies continuing the four-day work week after the pilot.
The majority of the previous pilot's respondents also noted that business performance and productivity was maintained.
Nearly three in four (71%) employees participating also reported lower levels of burnout.
"Measures of work-life balance improved. Respondents found it easier to balance their work with both family and social commitments, and were more satisfied with their household finances, relationships and how their time was being managed," the 4 Day Week Foundation said.
The four-day work week is an emerging working arrangement that has grown more in-demand across the world amid employees' rising preference for work-life balance.
