Working fewer hours for the same pay might sound like utopian thinking, but for employees in the UK it is fast becoming a reality.
A report released this week revealed a sharp uptick in the number of firms offering a four-day week. Academics at the University of Reading’s Henley Business School surveyed 500 businesses (and 2,000 employees), and found that 65 per cent now offered shorter working weeks, compared to 50 per cent in 2019.
Companies doing so reported improvements in the quality of work, and claimed that it was easier to attract and retain staff. All of which helped firms save money – an average of £18,000 a year, according to academics. As for employees, they reported feeling less stressed.
Dr Rita Fontinha, who led the research, said increased interest in a four-day week was perhaps “the greatest silver lining to come from the pandemic.”
Image: Campaign Creators
