Signals of the future of work (Jun. 2022)

Four-day working week: a new pilot programme starts in the UK

On 6 June, more than 3,300 workers in 70 companies in the UK began a six-month pilot programme during which they will shorten their working week to four days while still earning 100% of their salary, in exchange for a commitment to keep up productivity. The trial was organised by the non-profit groups 4 Day Week Global and 4 Day Week UK Campaign, and Autonomy, an organisation that studies the impact of work on people’s well-being. Researchers from Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College will assess how the four-day week affects workers’ productivity and quality of life, and plan to present the results of the project