In the UK and elsewhere, the 4-day workweek grows in popularity

Employees are increasingly looking to reorganise their work schedules, and one approach being experimented with in various places worldwide involves around the four-day workweek.

The system is gaining popularity in the United Kingdom: between June and December 2022, 60 British companies tested the four-day week as part of a campaign during which employees worked 20% fewer hours, while retaining the same professional objectives and salary.

After six months, the initial results of the experiment were largely positive: employees were more motivated and their productivity had not dropped.

The overwhelming majority (89%) of British companies taking part in the “4 Day Week Global” campaign still use this work rhythm, according to a study conducted by Cambridge University and Boston College. More than 50% have even decided to adopt it permanently.

All indications suggest that the four-day workweek contributes to employee wellbeing, with over 80% of the managers and CEOs surveyed saying it has a positive impact on their staff. They say they are healthier, both physically and mentally, and are able to maintain a healthier balance between their professional and personal lives, which contributes to their overall satisfaction.

For employers, benefits are also being observed in terms of team turnover and company attractiveness. This alternative working pattern is an effective asset for recruiting and, above all, retaining employees.

Juliet Schor, professor of sociology at Boston College and co-author of the study, sees prospects for the long-term success of the “4 Day Week Global” campaign, noting: “The strong findings at six months are not due to novelty or short-term impacts – these effects are real and long-lasting.”

The four-day week is also gaining interest beyond the UK, with similar initiatives having been launched in Germany, Portugal, Spain and Scotland.

Meanwhile, many national and regional governments, including California, Finland, Iceland, Wales, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, are debating, legislating or encouraging shorter workweeks, indicating a shift in official attitudes.

Belgium, meanwhile, officially adopted this system in February 2022, and this year secured the legal right to complete a standard workweek in four days without any salary reductions. However, the majority of Belgians have preferred, perhaps surprisingly, to keep to a traditional working pattern.