A study involving many companies in the United Kingdom is discovering reasons to change the way work is being done. Will this usher in a new labor revolution in the near future?
A groundbreaking six-month trial of a four-day work week being conducted in the U.K. is still halfway but data points and qualitative feedback reveal promising results that could change the way work is being done in many fields.
According to a press release from 4 Day Week Global, which is conducting the trial with the participation of more than 70 organizations, many companies are reporting noteworthy improvements in many areas related to their workforce and their overall output.
The trial asks participating organizations to let their workers work for only four days instead of five, on the condition that their productivity remains at 100% while the days spent working is at 80%. The workers continue to receive their salaries in full, Gizmodo noted.
Asked to rate the ease of transition from the five-day work week into a four-day work week, with "1" being "extremely challenging" and "5" as "extremely smooth," majority of respondents admit that it wasn't difficult at all: 20% of participating companies selected "3," 49% selected "4" and 29% selected "5."
To date, about 88% of participants reported that the four-day week is working "well" for their businesses, even at this stage of the six-month trial.
In terms of productivity, about 46% of respondents said productivity has been "maintained around the same level," while 34% report productivity has "slightly increased." Interestingly, 15% report that productivity has "improved significantly."
Companies also report that while productivity remains the same or has improved, employee wellness has also improved as well. Trio Media CEO Claire Daniels, for one, says the trial has been "extremely successful" for their company.
"Productivity has remained high, with an increase in wellness for the team, along with our business performing 44% better financially," Daniels said.
Shifting to a 4-day week permanently?
4 Day Week Global also asked participating companies if they would like to shift from a five-day work week to a four-day work week even after the trial has passed. A whopping 86% of respondents said they were "likely" to "extremely likely" to consider retaining the new work policy after the study has finished.
Joe O'Connor, 4 Day Week Global CEO, said the findings resulting from the participation of these organizations in the U.K. "are laying the foundation for the future of work." The CEO, however, explains that there might be hurdles, such as fixed practices and cultures, but these findings are still important and will help transform "the world of work" everywhere.
