Campaign underway for UK’s second four-day work week pilot project

A campaign is underway for a new pilot project of the four-day work week, with organisations now being invited to sign up ready for a November 2024 start.

The 4 Day Week campaign, which ran its first pilot project in 2022, is hoping to gain more attention under a new Labour government following July’s General Election.

What is the four-day work week?

The 4 Day Week Campaign model reduces the UK’s typical 40-hour work week down to 32 hours, with no reduction in salary for employees.

The four-day week concept is no longer something new. It’s gained momentum in several countries over the last few years – particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic which raised many questions about flexibility and when and where employees were capable of working.

However, it was gaining traction even before the pandemic forced many to adjust their working patterns and locations. Between 2015 and 2019, Iceland conducted the world’s largest pilot of the four day week involving 2,500 people, by reducing the then typical 40-hour weekly working hours down to 35 hours.

The study was hailed a success and as a result of it, nearly 90% of Iceland’s population now work reduced hours or have had other working accommodations made.

Spain, Germany and Portugal are among the other countries that have also piloted a four day week, and large corporations in Japan are also experimenting with reduced working hours.

What does the four-day week pilot project involve?

Campaigners argue that “the 9-5, 5 day working week is outdated and no longer fit for purpose. In the UK, we work some of the longest hours in Europe while having one of the least productive economies. We invented the weekend a century ago and are long overdue an update to working hours.”

During the first pilot project, which kicked off in June 2022, 61 companies took part with a total of 2,900 employees.

Of those 61 companies, 92% decided to continue with the four-day work week following the six month pilot, with 18 companies stating it would be a permanent change.

The pilot project simply involved cutting an entire working day out of the week, with loss of pay for employees. Other four-day week models might see employees working longer hours across four days, to make up for the time they lose from not working on the fifth day.

What are the benefits of a four-day week?

The 4 Day Week Campaign argues that there are wide-ranging benefits to operating a four-day work week, including:

For employees – fostering a better work-life balance, helping with the cost-of-living, aiding rest and sleep, and allowing more time for leisure and ‘life admin’ activities.
For employers – helping to boost productivity, performance and profits, as well as enabling organisations to attract better talent.
The economy – helping to lower employment, increase productivity, and boost the tourism sector as employees have more time for recreational activities.
For society – providing more time for people to focus on their health and wellbeing, and enabling a more equal share of paid and unpaid work, including caring roles traditionally ascribed to women.
For the environment – helping to reduce our carbon footprint, and promote a more sustainable lifestyle through less commuting and more time to make environmentally-positive choices rather that convenience driven decisions.

The results from the UK’s first four-day week pilot were overwhelmingly positive, with the vast majority of participating companies satisfied that business performance and productivity were maintained.

Over the course of the trial period, 71% of employees reporting experiencing lower levels of burnout and stress. Levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues decreased, while mental and physical health both saw improvements.

There was also a 65% decrease in the number of sickness days taken, and companies’ revenue rose by 1.4% on average.

Managing employee attendance for a four-day working week

For many organisations, especially global and enterprise companies, managing employee attendance comes with its challenges. Particularly when it comes to absence and leave policies across different locations, monitoring employee time, and handling both part-time and full-time workers.

Whether you operate a four-day week, a nine-day fortnight, or have a mix of full-time and part-time staff, implementing an attendance management system is usually the best way to ensure accuracy, visibility, and compliance.