The UK is starting the biggest ever pilot program for the four-day week. Over 70 companies and 3,300 employees are taking part in the program.
What is the four-day work week?
The UK is trying a new work format with the four-day week. Thousands of employees from over 70 firms are taking part in the pilot program. The trial, based on the 100:80:100 model, will result in no loss of pay for employees. In the 100:80:100 model, employees receive 100 percent of the pay for 80 percent of the time in exchange for a commitment to maintaining 100 percent productivity. Firms from a wide range of sectors such as banking, retail, animation, hospitality, IT software training, and many more are taking part in this trial.
The program is organized by 4 Day Wek Global, in partnership with Autonomy, a major think tank. Researchers from Cambridge, Oxford, and Boston College are also a part of this pilot. The program will run for six months. “As we emerge from the pandemic, more and more companies are recognizing that the new frontier for the competition is quality of life and that reduced-hour, output-focused working is the vehicle to give them a competitive edge,” stated Joe O Connor. O Conner is the CEO of 4 Day Week Global.
“The impact of the ‘great resignation’ is now proving that workers from a diverse range of industries can produce better outcomes while working shorter and smarter,” he added.
“The 20th-century concept of a five-day working week is no longer the best fit for 21st-century business”
Staff from various organizations are excited to start the new format of working.
“The option of working a four-day week was the main reason for choosing to work here. The hospitality industry has unsociable working hours and it needs to change. It’s not surprising the industry has been struggling with recruitment given the excessively long working hours,” stated Kirsty Wainwright. Wainwright is the general manager at Platten’s Fish and Chips in North Norfolk. She is also a mother of two. “On a five-day week, I didn’t get to see my kids enough. Spending more time with my kids is the best thing about a four-day week. It’s amazing,” she added.
“We have long been a champion of flexible working, but the pandemic moved the goalposts in this regard. For Charity Bank, the move to a four-day week seems a natural next step,” stated Ed Siegel. Siegel is the CEO of Charity Bank, another organization taking part in the pilot. “The 20th-century concept of a five-day working week is no longer the best fit for 21st-century business. We firmly believe that a four-day week with no change to salary or benefits will create a happier workforce and will have an equally positive impact on business productivity, customer experience, and our social mission,” he added.