Workers get more done in four-day week, say experts

You're probably reading this at the start of your weekend. But now imagine that weekend had started a day earlier... and did so every week. Sounds good, right?

- KARL MATCHETT

That could be the new reality many companies and employees face in the future, after the four-day business week took another step towards implementation in the UK.

This year, 17 businesses of different types have been trialling the move, organised by the 4 Day Week Foundation. Almost 1,000 different employees were involved, all retaining their normal salary - and after the culmination of that study, all 17 companies have opted to keep going, following an earlier trial that saw 5,000 people adopt the scheme permanently.

Not all are doing straight four-day weeks. Some were trialling nine-day fortnights. And there are clearly some industries that would face challenges to alter schedules and regulations. But the initial results for those taking part appeared positive, with nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of employees saying they noted a “reduction in how often they experienced burnout”.

Firms that took part in the trial have cited customer satisfaction and employee performance as reasons for continuing, with one expecting mass adoption across the next decade.

Vicky Walker, chief people officer at Westfield Health, told The Independent that less work has been shown to mean more output.