UK Government Admits Four Day Week May Work Well For Some Companies

Government officials have said a four-day working week ‘may work’ for some companies.

On 6 June, more than 3,300 workers across 70 UK companies started working a four-day week, with no pay loss, in what’s been billed as the world’s biggest ever trial of the new working pattern. 

In a new letter, officials from the department for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) have conceded that a shortened week may work for some.

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According to The Independent, a letter has been sent on the behalf of Business Minister Paul Scully to the trial organisers.

A BEIS official said: “The government is committed to supporting individuals and businesses to work flexibly.

"While a four-day working week may work well for some workers and employers, the government does not believe there can be a ‘one size fits all’ approach to work arrangements.”

LADbible has approached a BEIS spokesperson for comment. 

The pilot is helmed by non-profit 4 Day Week Global and sees participants across the country enjoy a three-day weekend every week, which isn’t half bad.

The idea is that workers will work for 100% of their salary for only 80% of hours, with the hopes it’ll result in 100% productivity.

Factors including productivity levels, worker wellbeing, environmental impact and gender equality will be monitored by researchers during the trial.

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A whole host of firms are signed on, including the likes of Yo Telecom, Royal Society of Biology, Pressure Drop Brewing and Platten Fish and Chips.

Joe O’Connor, the pilot programme manager for 4 Day Week Global, previously told The Independent: "More and more businesses are moving to productivity-focused strategies to enable them to reduce worker hours without reducing pay.

"We are excited by the growing momentum and interest in our pilot program and in the four-day week more broadly.

"The four-day week challenges the current model of work and helps companies move away from simply measuring how long people are ‘at work’, to a sharper focus on the output being produced. 2022 will be the year that heralds in this bold new future of work."

The UK pilot is one of many similar schemes tested across the globe in the last few years, as the traditional Monday to Friday working model is dismantled. 

Countries including Spain, Iceland and New Zealand have also taken part in similar trials, while Microsoft Japan saw a 40 percent increase in staff productivity after implementing its own four-day week back in 2019.