More and more British companies are switching to a permanent four-day workweek without cutting wages. According to the latest update from the Four Day Week Foundation, 200 companies have already adopted this model, employing a total of more than 5,000 people. This initiative is gaining popularity in various industries, including the non-profit sector, marketing, technology, creative professions, and engineering, according to The Independent.
The rise in popularity of the four-day workweek model coincides with broader changes in attitudes toward work. According to a recent survey, approximately 6% of UK workers already work a four-day schedule, enabling around 1.5 million people to benefit from the new approach. Public support is also growing: according to a Survation survey, 58% of respondents believe that three-day weekends will become the norm by 2030.
South Cambridgeshire District Council has become the first local authority in the UK to trial a four-day week, rolling out the model to more than 600 employees. Joe Ryle, director of the Four Day Week Foundation, called the move "a win for both employees and employers." The Foundation plans to launch at least three new pilot projects in 2025.
Younger workers are particularly supportive of abandoning the traditional five-day work week. A study by Spark Market Research found that 78% of Britons aged 18-34 expect the four-day week to become more common over the next five years. In addition, 65% of respondents in this age group expressed reluctance to return to a full office schedule.
While the four-day workweek is generating enthusiasm, it is also facing criticism from some politicians and business leaders. Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow business minister from the opposition Conservative Party, warned that such changes could increase costs for companies and slow economic growth. Government officials have emphasized that they do not plan to force a four-day workweek, leaving this decision to the discretion of employers. Under the current legislation, employees have the right to request flexible working hours, but employers are not obliged to agree.