It might sound impossible to imagine working less for the same salary. But for thousands of UK employees it became a reality on Monday with the launch of the world’s largest four-day week trial.
The six-month pilot is being carried out by 3,300 employees from 70 UK companies. The pilot was signed up by banks, automotive firms, and even a fish & chip shop. Participants will need to work 80 per cent of their normal hours in order to maintain their productivity levels.
4 Day Week Global launched the pilot in partnership with Autonomy (a thinktank) and the 4 Day Week UK Campaign. It will be studied by researchers from Boston College, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge.
“The 20th-century concept of a five-day working week is no longer the best fit for 21st-century business,” said Ed Siegel, CEO of Charity Bank, which is taking part. “We firmly believe that a four-day week with no change to salary or benefits will create a happier workforce, and will have an equally positive impact on business productivity, customer experience and our social mission.”
Image: Marten Bjork
