The Nikos Poulantzas Institute, aiming to contribute to the discussion on the future of work and within the framework of its participation in the European Work-time Network¹, publishes in Greek the study released by the research organization Autonomy on the six-month pilot trial of the four-day workweek in the private sector in the United Kingdom.
This pilot trial is the largest conducted worldwide to date. It involved 61 companies and approximately 2,900 employees, running from June to December 2022 with the support of Autonomy, 4 Day Week Global, the UK’s 4 Day Week Campaign, and specialized academic researchers. Notably, most participating companies were small, with up to 25 employees.
The report, published in February 2023, provides a detailed evaluation of the pilot trial and presents the highly positive findings of research conducted by Autonomy and research teams from Boston College and the University of Cambridge.
It should be noted that companies were not required to adopt a strict model for reducing working hours or implementing a four-day week. The only requirements were that salaries remain unchanged and that a “substantial” reduction in working hours take place. Depending on the sector, organizational challenges, departmental structures, and workplace culture, different models were developed, including traditional Friday-off schedules, rotating schedules, decentralized models, annualized schedules, and models tied to specific conditions.
Key findings from the study include:
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The trial was overwhelmingly successful. Of the 61 companies, 56 continued with the four-day week model (92%), and 18 of these reported that the policy change would be permanent.
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Major benefits of reduced working hours were observed in employee health and well-being. Pre- and post-trial data show that 39% of employees experienced reduced stress and 71% reported lower levels of burnout. Anxiety, fatigue, and sleep problems also decreased, while both mental and physical health improved.
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Work-life balance indicators improved throughout the pilot. Employees found it easier to balance work with family and social responsibilities—54% reported better management of household tasks—while satisfaction with household finances, interpersonal relationships, and time management increased.
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60% of employees reported improved capacity to combine paid work with caregiving responsibilities, and 62% found it easier to balance work with social life.
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Business performance indicators also showed positive effects. Participating companies generally maintained revenue levels throughout the pilot, with an average increase of 1.4%, weighted by company size. Compared to a similar period in previous years, companies reported an average revenue growth of 35%, demonstrating that reduced working hours did not impede stable growth.
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Staff turnover decreased significantly, with a 57% drop during the pilot.
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For many participants, the positive impact of the four-day week outweighed monetary considerations. Fifteen percent of employees stated they would not accept a return to a five-day workweek, regardless of financial compensation.
A follow-up study by Autonomy (February 2024) found that 89% of the companies continue the reduced working hours policy, and 51% have permanently adopted the four-day workweek. For more information, see here.
The European Work-time Network, evolved from the European Network for the Fair Sharing of Working Time, advocates policies for reducing working hours as a means to achieve more sustainable forms of production, more meaningful jobs, and a fairer distribution of wealth. See also the Network’s Manifesto.
