A 4-day work week comes only on a bank holiday a few times a year, but the future could look slightly different. Over the next six months, more than 3,300 workers at 70 UK companies will be working four days a week with no loss of pay. The trial promises full payment to all its workers for 80% less of the time while they commit to maintaining 100% productivity. Researchers will measure this impact on productivity, well-being, environment, and gender equality. Research on the gender pay gap by the Government shows that around 2 million British people are currently unable to seek employment due to childcare responsibilities, 86% of whom are women. More flexibility would mean that expenses such as childcare could be more manageable, with an extra day to be with their family.
What would you do with a three-day weekend? You might spend more time with your family, catch up on a hobby or project, or learn to cook something new. This might seem rare, but companies are looking to make this a reality…
What Is A 4-Day Work Week?
A 4-day work week is just what it sounds like, but its implementation can vary. Some plans compensate workers for five days worth of work, even though they’re working a four-day workweek, while others only compensate workers for four days worth of work. There are multiple reasons for the growing push for a 4-day work week. Worker productivity has increased by as much as 5% annually from 1987 to 2015, but compensation never grew by more than 2% per year in that period. The average hours worked per week have been nearly 43 hours since 1970. Companies can also save money from using fewer resources when employees spend less time in the office. They won’t have to pay for electricity and utility usage when no employees will be in the building.
