'A four-day week with no loss of pay can be a win-win for both workers and employers'
Thousands of workers in the UK now have permanent access to a four-day workweek setup, according to a report.
This comes after 200 employers in the country signed up to make the shortened workweek schedule permanent, according to The Guardian.
And more than 5,000 workers across multiple industries will benefit from the transition, according to the report, citing data from the 4 Day Week Foundation.
“The 9-5, five-day working week was invented 100 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. We are long overdue an update,” says Joe Ryle, the foundation’s campaign director, as reported by The Guardian.
With “50 per more free time, a four-day week gives people the freedom to live happier, more fulfilling lives”, says Ryle in The Guardian’s report, adding that “a four-day week with no loss of pay can be a win-win for both workers and employers”.
Because of the four-day workweek, employee burnout is down by 17 per cent; mental health has improved by 17 per cent; and work-life balance has improved by 35 per cent, according to a previous report.
And 91 per cent of senior managers say they would support having fewer working days in the week for their teams, according to a previous Robert Half study.
Which industries are adopting four-day workweek?
Marketing, advertising, and public relations firms have been among the most enthusiastic adopters, with 30 companies making the switch, according to The Guardian’s report.
Charities, NGOs, and social care organisations follow closely, with 29 firms implementing the new policy. The technology and IT sector has also embraced the model, with 24 businesses now offering shorter workweeks, while 22 companies in consulting and management have joined the movement.
London-based businesses have been the most active in adopting the policy, with 59 companies in the capital committing to the four-day workweek. Employers who have introduced the initiative cite improved talent retention, enhanced productivity, and better employee engagement as key benefits.
Recently, New Zealand-based manufacturing firm Longveld said it was formalizing a four-day workweek for its blue-collar workforce.
The transition to four-day workweek for these companies, however, is taking place while US-headquartered companies including JPMorgan Chase and Amazon have demanded that staff attend work in person five days a week, noted The Guardian.
Over nine in 10 (93 per cent) Canadians are interested in a four-day work week, according to a previous report from Talent.com.
