Imagine a world where three-day weekends were every week. Where you only worked 32 hours instead of 40, but still received the same pay. Some may say it’s bad for business… others say it’s the future.

For Autonomy and 4 Day Week Global, that future is now. They’re leading a new 4 day week pilot program through November 2022 with more than 3,300 workers at 70 companies in the UK.

Researchers who are studying this pilot will measure employees' satisfaction at home and at work and will also track their health—including sleep, stress, and burnout.

Employees across the UK have already told us they want a 4-day work week—65% even said would take a pay cut for it. The workplace is evolving, and this pilot is measuring that. 

How does a 4-day work week work, exactly? 4 Day Week Global focuses on a 100:80:100 model to help businesses stay successful while improving work-life balance. Personnel work at 100% productivity in only 80% of typical work hours, and companies provide 100% of the pay. 

Joey Cofone, Founder + CEO at New York’s Baronfig, made the switch to a 4-day work week a year ago, and calls it “a 10 out of 10 decision.” In a Linkedin post about the 4-day switch, he cites Parkinson’s Law: “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” He’s seeing his company perform at its peak as work evens out over four days.

So companies shouldn’t worry that reducing work hours means reduced productivity. In fact, it may be just what your business needs.

Why a 4 day work week matters

Quality of life is more important to workers than ever before. Since 2020, we’ve seen how flexible and adaptive the workplace can be—and how much better our work-life balance becomes.

In our State of Hybrid Work 2022 report, we learned that a 4 day work week was a top benefit that people would like from a prospective employer. Just by offering reduced work hours, companies open themselves up to a larger pool of talented, driven employees who know how to manage their time.

Having an extra personal day each week gives people more time for:

• Community + civic engagement
• Mental wellness
• Stress management
• Fitness and exercise
• Personal growth and learning
• Building and raising a family
• Creative pursuits like music or art
• And so much more

Your employees value flexibility in when they work, and 37% of workers want flexibility in working hours. Offering that flexibility is the best way to show your people that you value their time. And businesses benefit, too, with higher productivity, customer satisfaction and NPS, and higher talent retention.

These progressive and flexible work policies are an opportunity to keep people engaged and satisfied. People want more time outside of work to focus on what matters most: their family, health, and happiness. 

We’re looking forward to the research analyses of this pilot program after it wraps in November. Which companies will make the permanent switch? And what successes will we see from a permanent move to working four days a week? Stay posted as we explore the data.

See the full list of 4 Day Week UK employers here and use 4 Day Week’s guide to managing a 4-day trial here.