Companies that implemented 4-day working week share lasting benefits more than one year after it began

Companies which trialled a four day working week have revealed just how successful the practice has been.

The four day working week has becoming an increasingly popular idea, with advocates claiming that it will not only be beneficial for employees, but also for businesses.

As for how it works, it's more or less what it sounds like. Instead of working five days a week, you work four without any reduction in pay.

Now, another trial of the four day working week has revealed that there is a lot of truth to these benefits.

Data from a UK advocacy group 4 Day Week Global reveal happier employees, more efficiency, and a lower turnover of staff.

The group carried out a study beginning in 2022 involving 61 companies, who moved to a four day working week as a six month trial.

As of 2024, 54 of those 61 companies still have the policy in place, and over half of them have made it permanent.

So what are the benefits of moving into a four day working week?

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Surveys of the companies after the study reveal the benefits they have experienced.

When it came to the employees, they reported improvements in their physical and mental health. There was also reported improvement of work life balance, as well as general life satisfaction.

The companies also saw reduced rates of burnout, and employees said they had a higher job satisfaction.

Not only that, but the results were born out over several months and weren't just a one off.

Sociologist Juliet Schor of Boston College was part of the team that conducted the study.

She said: "The results are really stable. It's not a novelty effect. People are feeling really on top of their work with this new model."

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A webinar saw companies which have adopted the four day week sharing their experiences adapting to it.

Nicci Russell, CEO of non profit Waterwise, said: "It absolutely doesn't happen by magic.

"You can't just drop a day and carry on as usual, because how stressful would that be?"

But despite some initial challenges, Russell said that they managed to find a way for all 10 employees to work a four day week, taking Fridays off.

She also praised how it made employees far more likely to stay, saying: "It's brilliant for retention, which is super important in a teeny organization like ours."

Would you want to adopt a four day working week?