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4 day week UK pilot programme

The results of the world's biggest ever four-day working week pilot which took place in the UK were revealed in February 2023 with almost every company that took part deciding to continue with a four-day week, with no loss of pay for workers.

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In a report published by the think tank Autonomy and leading academics at the University of Cambridge and Boston College in the US, the results show that:

 

  • Almost every company (92%) that took part has decided to continue with the four-day week after the pilot. Of the 61 companies that participated, at least 56 are continuing with the four-day week, with 18 saying the policy is a permanent change 

  • The vast majority of companies were satisfied that business performance and productivity was maintained

  • Over the six-month trial period, stress and burnout for employees both significantly declined with 71% of employees reporting lower levels of burnout

  • Reported levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues decreased, while mental and physical health both experienced improvements.

  • Measures of work-life balance improved. Respondents found it easier to balance their work with both family and social commitments, and were more satisfied with their household finances, relationships and how their time was being managed.

  • Other key business metrics showed signs of positive effects. Companies’ revenue stayed broadly the same, rising by 1.4% on average.

  • There was a substantial decline (57%) in the likelihood that an employee would quit, dramatically improving job retention.

  • There was a 65% reduction in the number of sick days

 

Organisations that took part in the pilot trialled a four-day week with no loss of pay for employees.

 

From a local chippy to large corporates, participating companies in the UK pilot provide products and services ranging from education to workplace consultancy; banking; care; financial services; IT software training; professional development and legal training; housing; automotive supply services; online retail; sustainable homecare; skincare; animation studios; building and construction recruitment services; food and beverage and hospitality; digital marketing; and comprehensive case management services for people recovering from traumatic injury.

 

Around 2,900 employees took part in the six-month trial overall, which kicked off at the beginning of June 2022 and was run by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with Autonomy, the 4 Day Week Campaign, and researchers at University of Cambridge and Boston College.

 

Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, said:

 

“This is a major breakthrough moment for the movement towards a four-day working week.

 

“Across a wide variety of different sectors of the economy, these incredible results show that the four-day week with no loss of pay really works.

 

“Surely the time has now come to begin rolling it out across the country.”

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The following UK companies took part and have agreed to be named publicly:

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  1. 24/Three Consultants - Construction / Architecture (Rushden, Northamptonshire)

  2. 5 Squirrels -  Health Manufacturing and Retail (Brighton and Hove)

  3. Adzooma -  Tech/Advertising (Nottingham, Manchester and London)

  4. AKA Case Management - Domiciliary Care (Nottingham, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester)

  5. Amplitude Media Limited - Marketing (Northampton)

  6. Ascendancy - Marketing (Newport, Shropshire)

  7. Bedrock Learning Ltd - Software / Education (Norwich)

  8. Bookishly - Retail (Northamptonshire)

  9. Boom! Studios - Creative (Bangor)

  10. Charity Bank - Banking (Tonbridge, Kent)

  11. Citizens Advice Gateshead - Not for profit (Gateshead, Tyne)

  12. Clarkson and Woods Limited - Environmental consulting (Somerset)

  13. Debt Justice - Not for profit (London)

  14. Everledger - Technology (London, Birmingham, Manchester (and global)

  15. Evolution Money - Financial Services (Manchester)

  16. Flatpack - Not for profit (Birmingham)

  17. Furness Insurance Services - Insurance (London)

  18. Frame 25 - Recruitment, Broadcasting & Media (Oxford)

  19. Happy - Learning (London)

  20. Helping Hands - Housing/Health and Social Care (Alcester, Warwickshire & branches nationwide)

  21. Hutch - Games (London)

  22. Kingston First - Not for profit (London)

  23. Knights Absorb - Education provider (Guildford)

  24. Literal Humans - Marketing/Advertising (London)

  25. Loudmouth Media - Digital Marketing (Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow, London)

  26. Merthyr Valley Homes - Housing (Merthyr Tydfil, Wales)

  27. Mox London - Creative Agency (London)

  28. Outcomes Based Healthcare - Healthcare Analytics (London)

  29. Outcomes First Group - Care and Education services (Bolton)

  30. Plattens Fish and Chips - Hospitality (Wells-next-the-sea, Norfolk)

  31. Pressure Drop Brewing - Brewing / manufacturing (London)

  32. Rivelin Robotics - Digital Manufacturing (Sheffield)

  33. Royal Society of Biology - Science & charity (London)

  34. Scotland's International Development Alliance - Not for profit (Edinburgh)

  35. Sensat - Construction Software (London)

  36. SideQuest Ltd - VR / Gaming (Belfast)

  37. Sounds Like These - Audio Production (London)

  38. Stellar Asset Management - Finance (Liverpool)

  39. Stemettes - Social enterprise (London)

  40. TBL Services - Consultancy (Lancaster)

  41. The Story Mob - Comms & PR Consultancy / Video games (London)

  42. Trio Media - Digital Marketing (Leeds and London)

  43. Tyler Grange - Environmental Consulting (Rendcomb, Cirencester)

  44. Unity - PR and communications (London)

  45. Waterwise - Not for profit (London)

  46. We Are Purposeful - Not for profit (London)

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