A Four-Day Workweek Experiment Was So Successful, 92% of Companies Are Keeping It
A Four-Day Workweek Experiment Was So Successful, 92% of Companies Are Keeping It
A groundbreaking pilot program on the four-day workweek has recently concluded in the UK, featuring 61 companies and around 3,000 employees. The program, which spanned over six months, involved global researchers from Boston College and the University of Cambridge. The companies were given the flexibility to decide on their preferred structure, such as adding an extra day off per week or cutting working days to average out to 32 hours per week. The key requirement, however, was that the program must not result in the reduction of salaries or benefits.
The program proved to be a “resounding success” for both employees and employers. Workers reported numerous benefits, including improved sleep quality, reduced stress levels, better work-life balance, and more time spent on personal lives and mental health. Companies, on the other hand, reported less turnover, fewer sick days, less burnout, and better employee performance. Moreover, while the companies’ revenues remained stable, the average revenue increased by 35% when compared to a similar period from previous years.
Of the 61 companies that participated in the program, a staggering 56 or 92% will continue with the four-day workweek. Of these, 18 have already made the shift permanent. Only three (5%) of the companies plan to return to the traditional five-day workweek. The overwhelmingly positive results of the pilot program suggest that the four-day workweek could be an effective strategy for improving employee well-being, reducing burnout, and enhancing productivity, with no adverse effects on businesses’ financial bottom line.
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