Two hundred companies in the UK agree to have a permanent four-day workweek
Over 5,000 workers will benefit from reduced working hours without losing pay.
Two hundred UK companies have agreed to a permanent four-day workweek for all employees, with no pay cuts. This is part of a movement to change the traditional workweek in the UK.
These companies employ more than 5,000 people, including many from charities, marketing, and tech firms, according to the 4 Day Week Foundation.
Supporters of the four-day workweek argue that the five-day workweek is outdated. Joe Ryle, the foundation’s campaign director, explained that the 9-5, five-day schedule was created 100 years ago and no longer works well. He believes we need an update.
With 50% more free time, a four-day week allows people to live happier and more fulfilling lives. Many British companies and one local council have already shown that a four-day week with no pay loss benefits both workers and employers.
Marketing, advertising, and press relations firms were the first to adopt the four-day workweek, with 30 companies making the change. This was followed by 29 organizations in charities, NGOs, and social care, and 24 in technology, IT, and software. Another 22 companies in business, consulting, and management also decided to offer four-day weeks to their employees.
In total, 200 companies have now made the four-day workweek permanent. Supporters say it helps attract and keep employees, while also boosting productivity by getting the same results in fewer hours. So far, companies in London are the most enthusiastic, making up 59 of the total.
However, this shift is part of a bigger debate about work culture, which changed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many workers have been fighting to keep the option of working from home, and even more so to reduce their workdays.
In contrast, companies based in the US, like JPMorgan Chase and Amazon, have been enforcing the strictest rules, requiring employees to be in the office five days a week. Lloyds Banking Group is also looking at whether senior staff are meeting in-office targets for annual bonuses.
Some employees who still enjoy working from home have pushed back against returning to the office. For example, workers at Starling Bank resigned after the CEO asked them to come into the office more often.
Some Labour Party politicians, including the deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, support the idea of a four-day workweek. However, the party hasn’t adopted the policy yet, possibly because they don’t want to give their opponents, the Conservatives, a political advantage.
Published: 27th January 2025
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