More than 3,300 workers from 70 UK companies, from a local company to large financial companies, start working a four-day week from Monday without loss of pay in the world’s largest test of the new employer. work.
The pilot runs for six months and is organized by 4 Day Week Global in collaboration with the thinktank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week Campaign and researchers from Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.
The test is based on the 100: 80: 100 model: 100% pay for 80% of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintain 100% productivity.
Platten’s Fish and Chips in Wells-next-the-Sea on the north coast of Norfolk is partnering with Sheffield software firm Rivelin Robotics, the estate tax specialists Stellar Asset Management and Charity Bank in Tonbridge, Kent.
Joe O’Connor, CEO of the non-profit group 4 Day Week Global, said the UK was on the crest of the four-day weekly wave: “As we get out of the pandemic, more and more “The new frontier for competition is quality of life, and this short, production-focused work is the vehicle to give them a competitive edge.”
Some of the other companies involved offer education, workplace consulting, housing, skin care, building and construction contracting services, food and beverage, and digital marketing.
Researchers will work with each participating organization to measure the impact on the company’s productivity and the well-being of its employees, as well as the impact on the environment and gender equality.
Wyatt Watts, leader of the Platten’s Fish and Chips team, said morale had already improved within his team since the business joined the test. Expect extra time to rest to improve your energy levels and productivity. Photography: Brochure
Four-day-a-week trials are also set to begin later this year in Spain and Scotland.
Juliet Schor, a sociology professor at Boston College and a leading researcher on the pilot, described it as a “historical essay.” “We will look at how employees respond to having an extra day off, in terms of stress and exhaustion, job and life satisfaction, health, sleep, energy consumption, travel and many other aspects of life,” he said.
“The four-day week is generally considered a triple dividend policy: it helps employees, businesses and the climate. Our research efforts will go deeper into all of this.”
Wyatt Watts, 25, leader of Platten’s Fish and Chips team, said: “When I first learned that we would be working fewer hours on the same payroll, I thought to myself, ? ‘ I’m usually so exhausted from work that I don’t have the energy, so I hope having that extra time to rest will increase my energy levels. ”
He said the decision to join the pilot was already having an impact. “Morale has improved and we expect our productivity at work to be higher.”
Ed Siegel, CEO of Charity Bank, said he was proud to be one of the first banks in the UK to accept the four-day week. “We’ve been advocating for flexible working for a long time, but the pandemic really moved us in that direction. For Charity Bank, moving to a four-day week seems like a natural step.
“The 20th century concept of a five-day work week is no longer the best for 21st century businesses. We firmly believe that a four-day week with no pay or benefit changes will create a happier workforce and have a equally positive impact on business productivity, the customer experience and our social mission. “