Four-day work week trial: Results, outcomes, and challenges!

In 2022, the UK conducted the world's largest trial of a four-day working week, involving 61 organisations. Led by the Autonomy think tank and researchers from leading universities, these trials, along with similar government-backed initiatives in Spain and Scotland, generated intense public interest and debate around the idea of a transition to a shorter working week.

One year on, the results speak for themselves: 89% of companies are maintaining the four-day working week and 51% have adopted it definitively. Project managers and managing directors point to the positive effects on staff well-being (82%), reduced staff turnover (50%), improved recruitment (32%) and increased productivity (46%). Employees who share these sentiments are 96% more likely to report benefits in their personal lives. The key to success lies in clear communication, co-design and the introduction of protected days off. 

The crucial question is: is this transformed work culture sustainable? A survey conducted as part of the 'Four Day Week' campaign indicates that 58% of respondents expect it to become the norm by 2030, in stark contrast to the 22% who think it will not.

Yet uncertainty reigns. The level of employer interest in the four-day week, its feasibility in different organisations and the timing of wider economic change remain unclear. The CIPD study highlights employers' perspectives, revealing that 66% see change as dependent on organisational efficiency and the implementation of new technology. Additional some challenges remain, including adapting to customer expectations and uneven implementation of policies, reflecting an evolving work culture.