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More than 3,300 workers at 70 UK companies, ranging from a local fish 'n chips restaurant to large financial firms, have started working a four-day week with no loss of pay in the world’s biggest trial of a new way to work.
This is a six month trial and is being led by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with the Thinktank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week Campaign, and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.
The trial is based on the 100:80:100 model – 100% of pay for 80% of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintain 100% productivity.
Joe O’Connor, chief executive of the not-for-profit group 4 Day Week Global, said the UK was at the crest of the four-day week wave: “As we emerge from the pandemic, more and more companies are recognizing that the new frontier for competition is quality of life, and that reduced-hour, output-focused working is the vehicle to give them a competitive edge.”
Some of the other companies involved provide education, workplace consultancy, housing, skincare, building and construction recruitment services, food and beverages, and digital marketing.
Researchers will work with each participating organization to measure the impact on productivity in the business and the wellbeing of its workers, as well as the impact on the environment and gender equality.
Jack Kulp and Carolyn McArdle talked about it on the air! Listen below....