Between June and December 2022, Fred Lewsey from the University of Cambridge conducted the world’s largest trial on a four-day working week. The study involved 61 companies comprising approximately 2,900 workers in the UK.
The research results have demonstrated that the trial was highly successful. Out of the 61 participating companies, as many as 56 (92%) have continued with the four-day workweek policy, with 18 confirming that it is a permanent change.
So What are the Benefits of a 4-Day Work Week?
Here are some stats for you that confirm the successful implementation of a 4-Day Work Week according to the conducted research:
- 39% of workers were able to reduce their stress levels;
- 71% of employees experienced a decrease in burnout;
- 1.4% - an average increase in companies’ revenue across respondent organisations;
- 57% - decreasing staff turnover during the six months trial period;
- 15% of employees stated that they would not switch back to a five-day workweek even if offered more money.
In this age of heightened awareness regarding mental health, it is increasingly recognised that one’s work should not be the sole focus in life. Instead, work should be viewed as a means to achieve a fulfilling life while also prioritising other crucial aspects of it.
This concept aims to allow employees to have a balanced life where they can work and also take care of their household chores, such as cleaning the house for one day and then enjoying two days off. These two days off can be spent around family and friends or engaging in personal activities or hobbies.
Elevate Work-life Balance and Productivity
With more research supporting the 4-day working week shift, it’s only a matter of time before companies follow suit. So, why not lead the way and take the first step toward a happier, more productive workplace?
Suppose you still need to prepare to embrace the proactive and trendy changes in the workplace as such. In that case, other alternatives are available to improve productivity and acknowledge your colleagues’ hard work. One of the options is to incorporate the Karma bot into your Slack or Microsoft Teams workspace.
The Karma recognition tool is a great way to appreciate and reward employees who work hard while promoting better work/life balance. The bot allows employees to earn Karma points when they are thanked for completing specific tasks or exceeding expectations. When an employee accumulates enough points, they can exchange them for enjoyable company rewards like movie tickets, educational courses, company merchandise, or even an additional day off that can help you, as a manager, to test the waters of a four-day workweek.