A groundbreaking experiment with the four-day workweek has made lasting changes among British companies, with an extensive study showing the majority of the firms that participated in the trial making the shift a permanent one.
In an effort to test the effectiveness of working fewer days with the same productivity expectations, 61 companies in Britain participated in a pilot program in 2022.
A year later, research led by the think tank Autonomy found that a staggering 89% of these companies have continued with the four-day schedule. More than half of these have officially adopted this schedule as a permanent policy.
Following this major restructuring, business leaders report that the decrease in working days has positively affected their organizations. A significant 55% of senior management reported that the change had a “very positive” impact.
The study found a series of noticeable benefits, including that 82% of the companies reported an improvement in employee wellbeing, while staff turnover decreased. Additionally, 32% observed a positive impact on recruiting efforts, attributing it to the new policy.
The architect of the study, sociologist Juliet Schor of Boston College, highlighted the trial’s enduring positive outcomes. Ms. Schor stressed the ongoing improvement in quality-of-life measures for employees, including mental and physical health, work-life balance, reduced job burnout, and life satisfaction. Although slight declines in sleep metrics and job satisfaction were noted, the overall results suggest sustained benefits.
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