‘It would be impossible to go back’: inside the UK’s four-day work week trial

Halfway through the trial of a shorter working week, most companies are looking at ways to make the change permanent, despite some initial issues

Companies involved in the UK’s four-day week trial plan to continue with a shorter work week indefinitely, despite initial logistical challenges and rota mix-ups.

Starting in July, some 70 organisations and 3,300 staff made the switch to the 100:80:100 model. This sees staff retain 100% of their pay for 80% of their time, in exchange for a commitment to maintain at least 100% productivity. It is part of the biggest four-day week trial in the world

Initial reports described the “chaotic” first week of the four-day trial, as businesses struggled to adapt to the new working pattern. But now, halfway through the six-month pilot, many of the businesses involved are optimistic that the shorter working arrangement could continue well beyond the end of the experiment.