Published February 2022 and kept as a record. The figures and the law have moved on since it was written. For the current position see the Employment Rights Act timeline. Note added 21 October 2026.
To assess the impact of shorter hours on productivity, employee wellbeing, and gender equality, a four-day work week has been launched in the UK.
This six-month trial, organised by the charity 4 Day Week Global, will allow employees to get paid the same rate for working 80% of their usual hours. Among the companies participating in the pilot for the four-day work week in the UK is Canon.
In addition to 4 Day Week Global's UK pilot program, similar initiatives are being carried out in the USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
A four-day workweek has been tried before; Atom Bank recently switched to a four-day workweek without reducing wages. The company has reported a 500% rise in applicants since the change.
Additionally, Morrison’s has formerly explored a four-day workweek for its workers at its headquarters, which has over 1,500 staff. The shift to a short week suggests it can boost staff productivity and well-being, as demonstrated in multiple case studies by 4 Day Week Global. This was confirmed by Microsoft's trial of the shorter week in its Japan office, which saw an increase of 40% in productivity.
"This program helps companies shift their focus from simply measuring hours worked to focusing more on output being delivered," said Joe O'Connor, a pilot program manager for the campaign.