The findings of a large-scale study of the four-day work week have been published. Result: productivity remained stable while employee satisfaction increased dramatically. This is what emerges from the largest study ever carried out on the four-day working week, in which 61 companies in the United Kingdom participated, of which 56 decided to continue the changes, relays France info.
Companies and organizations that took part in this six-month trial ranged from small local businesses to large corporations with around 2,900 employees. These employees saw their work week reduced by five to four days, with no associated loss of pay. The trial was conducted by the 4 Day Week association, the Autonomy think tank and researchers from the University of Cambridge and Boston College (USA).
The results showed that the majority of businesses saw sustained performance and productivity, with an average 1.4% increase in revenue. About 92% of them maintained the four-day week after the pilot ended, and eighteen said the new policy was a permanent change.
Employee stress and burnout decreased significantly, with 71% reporting lower levels of burnout. Levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep disturbances decreased, while mental and physical health improved. However, there are a few negative points to note: 17% of employees reported an increase in the number of overtime hours and 15% reported an increase in their hourly volume. Some even had difficulty sleeping and 10% said they were more tired.
