The shift to remote and flexible work arrangements may not have occurred worldwide if not for the pandemic. Even if the restrictions become more relaxed, many employees aren’t returning to the office full time. Most of them are more comfortable working from anywhere in the world. And it’s no surprise they are very much open to a four-day work week.
The Four-Day Work Week Scheme
Thousands of workers in the UK started a four-day work week from Monday, June 6, with no cut to their pay. It is the largest trial of its kind to date. During the pilot, workers receive 100 percent of their salary for working only 80 percent of their usual week. Correspondingly, workers are committed to maintaining 100 percent of their productivity.
The program will run for six months involving 3,300 workers in 70 participating companies, ranging from financial service providers to restaurants.
4 Day Week Global is spearheading the pilot testing, the UK-based think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week UK Campaign, and researchers at Oxford University, Cambridge University, and Boston College.
Sienna O’Rourke, brand manager at Pressure Drop Brewing, told CNN Business that the company’s primary goal was to improve its workers’ mental health and well-being.
“The pandemic made us realize a great deal about work and how people organize their lives. We’re doing this to improve their lives and be part of a progressive change in the world,” O’Rourke said.
Since the company manufactures and ships products, employees have less flexibility about when and where they work, Sienna O’Rourke stated. However, any difficulties in managing holiday and sick leave would be discussed as a team.
Four-Day Work Week in Iceland
Iceland had implemented the most extensive pilot of a shorter working week between 2015 and 2019, with 2,500 public sector staff involved in two large trials. Those trials found no relevant drop in productivity among participants and a substantial increase in employee well-being.
Campaigns to shorten the working week have recently become popular in various countries. As millions of employees switched to remote work during the crisis, calls for more flexibility have become immensely popular worldwide.
Government-supported pilot programs will also take place in Spain and Scotland later this year, the 4 Day Week Campaign said in a press statement.
Joe O’Connor, CEO of 4 Day Week Global, said that the workers have shown they can work “shorter and smarter.” “As we enter the post-pandemic era, more companies are recognizing the new edge towards a competitive edge,” Joe O’Connor said.
Meanwhile, researchers plan to measure the impact of the new working arrangement on productivity levels, gender equality, the environment, and employee well-being.
Atom Bank, One of the First Companies to Implement Reduced Work Hours
Atom Bank announced the reduction of the weekly hours of its 430 staff to 34 from 37.5. Most employees are also expected to take either Monday or Friday off. The switch is voluntary, and the team might work slightly longer days.
The policy started in November 2021 to support the bank employees’ mental and physical well-being. Since then, most of its employees have switched to the new work pattern.
Atom CEO Mark Mullen said that a four-day work week would give their workers more opportunities to pursue their passions, spend quality time with their families, and build a healthier work-life balance. Mullen also said that Atom’s experience during the pandemic had uncovered many of the myths of the modern workplace, one of which is the need to work in an office setup.
Atom started in 2016 as a mobile bank. Atom Bank offers savings accounts, business loans, and mortgages via its app.
