Working a four-day week ‘slashes stress and illness WITHOUT compromising on productivity’, major study finds

Until recently, the prospect of working four days a week was wishful thinking for most workers.

However, one trial found that shortening the work week by one day increased employee well-being while maintaining productivity.

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Medical experts have now suggested that a four-day work week could be an option for some companies.

British researchers found that 71 percent of employees involved in the six-month study experienced less work-related burnout.

And 39 percent said they felt less stressed when they missed a day at work than when the study began.

Compared to the same period last year, there was a 65 percent decrease in sick days and a 57 percent decrease in layoffs.

Revenues for all 61 companies tested have changed little over the six-month period – they even increased slightly by an average of 1.4 percent.

Lead researcher, Professor Brendan Burchell of Cambridge University, said: “Many of the staff were very interested in finding efficiencies themselves.

“Long meetings with too many people have been canceled or eliminated altogether.

“Workers were much less inclined to kill time and actively sought out technology that would improve their productivity.”

Joe Ryle, leader of the 4-day-week campaign, calls the results a “major breakthrough” for the idea of ​​shorter workweeks.

“These incredible results show that the four-day week really works across a wide range of different economic sectors,” he added.

The study involved 2,900 employees working in a range of roles including consulting, housing, IT, skin care, recruiting, hospitality, marketing and healthcare.

Some companies halted work entirely for a three-day weekend, while others spread a reduced workforce over a week.

And at the end of the six-month process, many of the managers said they couldn’t see going back to a five-day workweek.

In a report of the results, almost all (92%) of the companies that took part in the UK pilot scheme said they planned to keep the four-day work week.

Prof Brendan added: “When we ask employers, many are convinced that the four-day week will happen.

“It has been uplifting for me personally to speak to so many upbeat people over the past six months.

“A four-day work week means better work and family life for so many people.”

In November last year, the Atom Bank and global marketing firm Awin, both of which have 450 companies, announced that they would implement a four-day workweek.