Four-day Workweek Trials Change Lives

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many workers got burnout, quit their jobs or do not have enough money because of inflation.

Recently, thousands of people tried a four-day workweek schedule in the UK. Their pay was not affected by the trial which started eight weeks ago. It is the largest four-day work week trial in the world. Already, some workers say that they feel happier, healthier and are doing well at work.

Lisa Gilbert, who works at Charity Bank, says that the new routine is great and she can really enjoy her weekends now. She does her chores, like grocery shopping, on Friday and has more free time to help her son and elderly parents.

The six-month trial has 3,300 workers from 70 different companies working 80% of their normal work schedule. They have to continue the same 100% productivity as before the trial.

The trial program is run by an organization called 4 Day Week Global Autonomy and the 4 Day Week UK Campaign. These organizations partnered with researchers from Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.

The researchers will study many points like the effect on productivity, work environment, employee health and gender equality. In November, when the trial ends, companies can decide to continue with the four-day work week or change back to a normal work week.

Between 2015 and 2019, the government of Iceland did similar trials with 2,500 workers. The results showed that there was no decrease in productivity, but employee well-being increased.

A survey of 10,600 workers in the United States showed that they spend about 58% of the workday attending meetings and emailing instead of real work.