Two hundred companies in the United Kingdom have committed to implementing a permanent four-day working week without reducing employees’ pay, according to a recent report.
The 4 Day Week Foundation revealed that these companies collectively employ over 5,000 people, with marketing and technology firms leading the adoption of the policy.
The Foundation’s campaign director, Joe Ryle, emphasized the outdated nature of the traditional five-day workweek, which originated over a century ago. “The 9-5, five-day working week was invented 100 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. We are long overdue an update,” Ryle stated. He argued that a four-day week, offering 50% more free time, would enable people to live happier, more fulfilling lives. “As hundreds of British companies and one local council have shown, a four-day week with no loss of pay can be a win-win for both workers and employers,” he added.
Initially championed by marketing, advertising, and public relations firms, the policy has since been adopted by 30 additional companies, including those in charity, NGO, and social care sectors. Technology, IT, and software firms (24 companies) followed suit, along with 22 business, consulting, and management firms.
Advocates for the four-day workweek highlight its potential to attract and retain talent while maintaining productivity by delivering the same results in fewer hours.
A report by media noted that London-based companies have been particularly enthusiastic, accounting for 59 of the total. This shift reflects a broader debate about work structures that intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic, as many employees pushed for the right to work from home, let alone shorter workweeks.
In contrast, some US companies, like JPMorgan Chase and Amazon, have mandated a full five-day in-office workweek. Similarly, Lloyds Banking Group has tied annual bonuses to meeting in-office attendance targets. However, hybrid work advocates have resisted such policies. At Starling Bank, for example, several employees resigned after the CEO demanded more frequent office attendance.
The four-day workweek has gained political support, with deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and other senior Labour Party politicians backing the idea. However, the Labour Party has yet to adopt the policy officially, possibly fearing it could be used as a political weapon by the opposition Conservative Party.
Research by Spark Market Research underscores generational differences in attitudes toward traditional work patterns. It found that 78% of 18-34-year-olds in the UK believe a four-day workweek will become the norm within five years, while 65% oppose returning to a fully office-based system.
Lynsey Carolan, Spark’s managing director, stated that younger workers, the backbone of the future workforce, are prioritizing mental health and well-being. “This group also say that mental health and improving their overall well-being are their top priorities, so a four-day week is a really meaningful benefit and a key enabler of their overall quality of life,” she explained.
