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The UK scheme is one of several schemes around the world to implement 4-day working weeks.
In the midst of a six-month trial with Four-day work weeks All over EnglandMany companies have seen initial success Results From a recent survey. Of the 41 companies that responded to the questionnaire, 35 said they were “likely” or “very likely” to continue the reduced work week after the pilot ends.
In total, 72 companies are taking part in the trial which will see their employees – a total of 3,300 – get one paid day off per week between Monday and Friday.
The trial, launched in June this year, is run by the 4 Day Week Global Organisation, the think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week UK Campaign and researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Boston and Oxford.
More specifically, results to date show that:
- Productivity has improved in almost half of the companies (34% said it had “improved a little” and 15% said it had “improved significantly”), while many felt it was about the same (46% of respondents), although everyone worked one day less per week.
- 86% of respondents said it was “very likely” and/or “possible” that they would consider the idea of having a four-day week when the pilot ends.
This data is based on responses from half of the companies participating in the pilot, who themselves responded to the survey.
“We find that for many it’s a very smooth transition and for some there are some understandable barriers – especially among those with fixed or inflexible practices, systems or cultures dating back to the last century,” says 4 Day Week Global CEO Joe Oh. ‘Connor.
Participating companies span most sectors of the economy, from fast-food joints to large corporations.
The idea of a shorter work week has been around for a long time. Economist John Maynard Keynes predicted in 1930 In a text Titled “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren,” everyone will work 15 hours a week because of the potential for wealth growth and technological advancement.
Since then many have spoken out about the idea of working less, most notably former US President Richard Nixon. predicted In 1956, one less workday per week in the “not too distant future”.
The UK project is one of many around the world exploring what a four-day working week might look like in practice. There was a movement on the part of the French media 32 hour work week And there are attempts Large scale Occurs in America, Scotland, New Zealand and Iceland. In Sweden, one Recent testing Employees completed the same amount of work in four days as they did in five days.
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