Does a four-day week work for companies and employees? A pilot project in Great Britain draws a positive conclusion. Of 61 companies, 54 want to continue the working time model.
A small economic miracle is happening in a small cosmetics factory in Hove on the south coast of England. In 2022, the company switched to a four-day week. It was a complete success for the founder and the employees.
Gary Conroy, who founded the company ten years ago, says: “We produce 10 to 15 percent more, even though we work less. We have reduced working hours and productivity has not decreased. On the contrary. We are doing more.”
Shorter meetings, shorter breaks
Work less and produce more – how can that work? For example, in the company “Five Squirrels” they shortened meetings. Joint discussions are only held when it is really necessary. According to the company, everyone works more focused and concentrated.
Breaks were also shortened – to 30 minutes instead of an hour a day. That’s why they only work four days a week, says one employee: “I find that very helpful. We have Friday to Sunday off. On Friday I can do everything, errands, appointments. Then I have a whole weekend to do it to relax and unwind, to visit family. When I come back on Monday, I’ll be full of energy.”
That is noticeable. Everything runs much more efficiently, fewer errors occur, and the number of complaints decreases. Aliyah Davies takes a closer look at how companies implement the four-day week. She works for the non-governmental organization “Autonomy”.
Four-day week: More than just an attempt
The organization has summarized the results in a study: “This report shows that of the 61 companies that took part in the pilot project, 54 have stuck with it. And of the 61, 31 have already announced that they will permanently only work four days a week. This shows: For many companies this is now more than just an experiment; they are sticking with it.”
It has also become clear: the advantages of the four-day week last and do not disappear after a few months. Employees are sick less, quit less often and it is also easier to find skilled workers. At “Five Squirrels” it is clear: they want to stick to the four-day week – like many other companies in England.
Christoph Prössl, ARD London, tagesschau, March 8, 2024 2:38 p.m