Hyro Blog

In 2022, 61 UK companies trialled the 4 day work week, where they transitioned their full time staff to work 4 days without a reduction in pay.

The trial began as a six-month trial, and today, 54 of these companies still have this policy in place, with just over half having made the move permanent.

Some of the major insights covered through the researchers who monitored and surveyed the trial stated that results showed improvement in workers physical and mental health, an unsurprising increase in work-life balance, increase in general life satisfaction, reduction in burnout and workers reported higher job satisfaction now, than before the trial began.

Sociologist Juliet Schor of Boston College, who’s part of this research team says that these results are ‘really stable’ and are ‘not a novelty effect’. “People are feeling really on top of their work with this new model.”

So with this positive result, why have some companies opted out after the trial and why is the uptake minimal at this stage? Why do companies fail?

Positive results of shortened working weeks do not happen by accident. They take hard work, and it’s not a case of reducing one day and getting on with business as usual. There will be teething issues that require proper strategy, planning, and implementation.

It is also important to understand that like most things, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Not every company is going to be able to give every staff member Friday’s off. The stock market is open 5 days per week, so how can you have all your employees off on one business day?

Better external communications and more flexibility in adapting policy changes will make a difference to your trials.

In terms of future of work and talent? Its something every business where a four day work week can apply to, need to seriously consider adapting to this future way of working. It will make a difference between retaining and attracting talent.

If you decide your business just cannot adopt this practice for X,Y,Z reasons, but other companies in your industry have proven you can, how will you compete?

Would you consider changing jobs if you were offered a 4 day working week?