Seventeen UK businesses, including Crate Brewery in Hackney and the British Society for Immunology, are launching a six-month trial of the four-day working week with over 1,000 employees participating.
Organised by the 4 Day Week Campaign, this trial lets workers maintain full pay while working only four days each week.
This follows a successful trial in 2022, where 56 out of 61 participating companies permanently adopted the shorter week after reporting improved staff morale, reduced stress, and no negative impact on performance.
The trial will run until April, with data on employee wellbeing, productivity, and burnout collected by researchers from Cambridge University, the Autonomy Institute, and Boston College. Findings will be presented to the government next summer, offering further insight into the feasibility of a four-day work model.
Labour has shown interest in flexible work options, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner stating that it poses “no threat to the economy.” Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, champions the model for offering “50 per cent more free time and no loss in pay,” promoting happier, more fulfilling lives.
For companies like Crate Brewery, the trial offers a unique advantage in the hospitality industry. Georgia Pearson, the company’s people manager, remarked that this “groundbreaking” shift not only supports employee wellbeing but also provides a competitive hiring edge. Doug Brown, CEO of the BSI, expressed optimism for improved work-life balance among staff, while underscoring the importance of maintaining high service standards.
Already, close to 200 UK companies have adopted the four-day week, and a recent survey by Owl Labs suggests that 1.5 million UK employees are working four-day weeks, showing growing interest in this approach across the workforce.