A new trial seeks to establish whether the four-day work week is a possibility or a pipedream.
A selection of 70 companies based in the UK are participating in a pilot program designed to establish whether transitioning to a four-day work week would result in a drop-off in productivity. Organized by a non-profit called 4 Day Week Global, in partnership with a group of UK universities and the Autonomy think tank, the trial will extend for a period of six months. As part of the experiment, the circa 3,000 participating staff members will receive the same amount of pay for only four days’ work, under the proviso that they are able to at least maintain regular levels of productivity. The move to a four-day work week has long been a subject of debate in the professional sphere, traditionally dividing opinion down political lines. Those on the left are likely to emphasize the benefits from a wellbeing perspective, while those with conservative values fear the impact on productivity and the ability to compete in global markets. Until recently, the discussion has been just that – a discussion – but the revolution in working culture brought about by the pandemic has delivered the four-day work week to the forefront of minds.
