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week – regardless of whether that meant longer The four day working week is nothing new
working hours on those days. The idea of a shorter working week is not a
new one. The five-day week is often credited to
In the UK trial, researchers will measure Henry Ford, who in 1914 proposed that his car
the impact of the four day work week on production switch from a six-day to a five-day
productivity in each business, as well as the rota. The creation of unions in the 20th century
well-being of workers. They will also record helped to make a five-day week and two days’
the impact on the environment and gender rest the norm.
equality.
Pros and cons of a four day working week Four day working weeks became three times
more common in the United States between
More than 80% of people in the UK would 1973 and 2018, with an additional 8 million
prefer a four day working week, according to a employees working such a pattern, according
survey in 2021 by recruitment company Reed. to research by the IZA Institute of Labor
It lists the advantages of the four-day model as: Economics. The rise wasn’t due to changes
in demographics or industrial structures, but
Improved morale and fewer absences: more a result of workers’ and employers’
A shorter working week leads to less burnout, preferences, the study notes.
making staff happier and more focused in their
roles. Four day working week experiments in
Helps recruitment: Offering potential other parts of the world
and existing employees a flexible working Belgium: Belgian employees recently won the
pattern will help attract and retain talented right to work a full week in four days without
professionals. However, there are also some loss of salary. People will be able to decide
potential disadvantages of the four day work whether to work four or five days a week.
week, the recruitment agency says:
Iceland: The country ran a four day working
It doesn’t suit all industries: Some sectors week trial between 2015 and 2019 and found
require a seven-day-a-week presence, which that the well-being of 2,500 workers who took
could make a short working week impractical. part increased in terms of health and work-life
Examples include emergency services, public balance.
transport networks and logistics.
New Zealand: All 81 employees at the New
It doesn’t suit all workers: Some employees Zealand office of consumer goods giant
prefer the structure of a five-day week, and Unilever are taking part in a year-long trial
some like working overtime. of a four day work week at full pay. If the
experiment is a success, the company will
It can increase costs: Some sectors, such consider extending it to other countries.
as healthcare, require staff to work long shifts.
Companies in these areas may have to pay
more overtime or draft staff in to make any
shortfalls. www.weforum.org
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