In a significant move, 17 additional British companies, involving over 1,000 employees, are set to embark on a six-month trial of a four-day workweek, commencing immediately.

Participants in this initiative include Hackney’s Crate Brewery and the British Society for Immunology (BSI), as part of the second extensive trial organized by the 4 Day Week Campaign. Notably, employees will maintain their salaries despite the shortened work schedule.

The initial trial in 2022 reported overwhelmingly positive outcomes, with 56 of the 61 participating businesses choosing to continue with the reduced workweeks.

Workers noted improvements in work-life balance, and reported lower stress levels and fatigue. The vast majority of participating companies experienced no decline in productivity.

The 4 Day Week Campaign is set to gather data regarding employee morale, productivity, and burnout through to the end of April, with plans to present findings to the government in the summer. Researchers from prominent institutions, including Cambridge University, the Autonomy Institute, and Boston College, Massachusetts, are collaborating on this project.

While the previous government regarded the four-day workweek as equating to “part-time work for full-time pay,” the Labour Party has expressed more openness to the idea. Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasized that flexible working arrangements pose no risk to the economy.

Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, stated, “With 50 percent more free time and no reduction in pay, a four-day week allows individuals to enjoy happier and more fulfilling lives.”

Georgia Pearson, Crate Brewery’s people manager, described participation in the trial as “somewhat groundbreaking” for a hospitality enterprise. She noted, “While we have not faced retention challenges, we acknowledge the competitive edge of being at the forefront of such initiatives.”

Doug Brown, the chief executive of BSI, expressed hopes that employees opting for a four-day week would enhance their work-life balance, making the organization a more appealing employer. He cautioned, however, that it is essential to sustain the quality of services provided.

Nearly 200 businesses in the UK have been accredited by the 4 Day Week Campaign for transitioning to a permanent four-day workweek.

A survey conducted last summer by Owl Labs indicated that 6 percent of full-time workers were already operating on a four-day weekly schedule, suggesting that approximately 1.5 million workers in the UK are engaged in this arrangement.