A successful work-life balance is a major priority for modern professionals, and the world is taking notice. The four-day work week is gaining momentum in the UK, and a rising number of companies are adopting this approach with a focus on working smarter, not longer.
But is a four-day work week truly the future of work? Our research suggests it could be. Let’s explore the impact of the four-day work week model on UK professionals and businesses.
What is a four-day work week?
The four-day work week is exactly what it sounds like: a full-time working week completed in four days instead of five. Though the specifics vary by company, organisations typically reduce their employees’ working hours (not salaries) by rearranging office hours to meet their operational needs.
From June to December 2022, the UK rolled out an experimental trial known as the Four-Day Week Pilot, where 61 businesses and 2,900 workers explored different four-day week models tailored to each company’s needs.
Today, 200 UK companies have adopted the 4-day workweek, according to the latest data from the 4 Day Week Foundation.
Current interest in the four-day work week
Our Future of Work Survey revealed that the four-day work week is the third most popular flexible work arrangement among UK employees, with 43% believing it would improve their productivity and well-being.
Belief that the four-day work week improves productivity and well-being varies significantly by generation and region:
- Millennials and Gen X believe most strongly that a four-day work week would improve their productivity and well-being, with 49% valuing the additional day off
- Scottish workers lead the nation in this belief at 52%, well above the UK average (43%)
- 33% of workers in the Midlands stated that a four-day work week would improve productivity and well-being, the lowest in the UK
- Workers in London are enthusiastic about remote or hybrid work, with 58% seeing it as beneficial, ahead of Scotland (48%) and Wales (42%)
Building a better work–life balance
The data show that the desire for a four-day work week is real. But how can it be implemented, and are employers willing to do so?
To find out, we asked Gareth Hoyle, Marketing Director of Marketing Signals, to comment on his company’s success with the model.
His company’s four-day work week trial began after one of their developers faced childcare scheduling challenges and proposed condensing his work into four days. After careful consideration, Hoyle hoped that reducing his team’s weekly working hours would actually increase productivity.
Hoyle, along with many UK workers, believes that two days off simply doesn’t allow employees to fully recover from five days of work and handle their personal commitments.
‘If I find it tiring, as the business owner who reaps the profits, I can only imagine how drained my salaried employees must feel,’ he says.
Instead of merely acknowledging the potential of the four-day work week, though, he introduced a staggered system.
Under this rotating work model, one team would take Fridays off, while the other would have Mondays off, ensuring a seamless workflow while still granting employees their four-day work week.
Why employers and employees love the four-day work week
The benefits of a four day work week extend to both sides of the employment relationship.
Benefits for employees
Workers experience several key advantages when their organisation adopts a shorter workweek:
- Improved work-life balance: An extra day off provides more time for personal commitments, family, and self-care
- Reduced burnout: Less time at work can help combat the high rates of burnout. According to our Future of Flexible Work Report, 43% of UK workers believe a shorter workweek would improve their productivity and well-being
- Flexible support: The report also found that 95% of Gen Z and Gen X, and 97% of Millennials believe some form of flexible work arrangement would help their productivity and wellbeing
Benefits for employers
Organisations rolling out these changes are seeing tangible business benefits as well:
- Talent attraction and retention: ‘A massive advantage to implementing the four-day work week in such a competitive labour market is that my attraction and retention have never been higher,’ says Hoyle
- Sustained productivity: Companies can maintain or even improve output despite reduced hours
- Enhanced company profile: Standing out as a progressive employer can boost recruitment efforts
Challenges of adopting a four-day work week
While the benefits are substantial, businesses considering this model should be aware of potential challenges:
Condensed workload pressure and potential burnout
Switching to a four-day workweek with longer daily hours can worsen workplace stress, extend burnout problems, and lead to scheduling conflicts with personal and social commitments.
Hoyle acknowledges the challenge of fitting a week’s work into just four days. At Marketing Signals, they take a measurement and process-driven approach to identify signs of fatigue or stress among team members.
‘We encourage them to take a few hours off, recharge by going to the gym, breaking a sweat, relaxing in a sauna, or simply going for a refreshing walk. We want to ensure our team stays energised and motivated,’ he explains.
Adapting to new routines
A common challenge companies face when switching to a four-day work week is resistance to deviating from the norm.
The transition to a four-day work week can initially leave employees uncertain about how to use their newfound free time.
Hoyle observed some Marketing Signals employees struggling to fill their extra day off, often logging in and staying connected on work-related platforms.
He says that changing a well-established work routine, especially for those with years of experience, with traditional Monday to Friday schedules, can initially leave people uncertain about how to use their newfound free time.
Industry-specific considerations
Operational challenges naturally arise when implementing a four-day work week model, such as managing customer support on Fridays and handling public holidays.
‘With customer service, you’re probably going to have to think about expanding your workforce and then the cost of extra employees,’ Hoyle points out.
Seb Morgan, Career Expert at CV Genius, explains, ‘Different sectors require different approaches. In healthcare or emergency services, you can’t simply shut down on Fridays, so they need creative solutions, like staggered schedules or longer opening hours with rotating staff. The four-day work week is not one-size-fits-all, and leaving this mentality behind allows companies to design patterns that work for their specific operational needs.’
Managing client expectations
Managing client expectations is especially important for customer-facing companies.
As the leader of his marketing agency, Hoyle emphasises setting realistic expectations with clients, especially when sudden requests or emergencies arise.
He mentions an instance when a client requested a project by the end of the week.
Although Hoyle has a strict policy on employees not doing overtime, he says that sometimes emergencies happen and will ensure that the team gets their time back on a future day.
‘As long as you’re open and honest with your clients and employees about time management and scheduling, then it’s not an issue,’ Hoyle says.
How to prepare your business for a four-day work week
For companies curious about a shorter work week, here are key steps to take:
- Analyse your workflow: Identify inefficiencies and opportunities for streamlining before making the transition
- Consider a staggered approach: Like Marketing Signals, divide your team so that different groups take different days off
- Set clear employee goals: Focus on deliverables rather than hours worked
- Invest in productivity tools: Use time tracking and project management tools to maintain efficiency
- Communicate clearly: Set expectations with both employees and clients about availability and response times
- Trial before committing: Run a pilot program to identify and address challenges before a full implementation
How to find a four-day work week job
For job seekers interested in finding a four-day work week position:
- Target progressive industries: Digital, tech, and marketing companies are more likely to offer this arrangement
- Search specifically for four-day opportunities: Search the 4 Day Work Week job board for open positions, or on other job boards, use search terms like ‘four-day work week’ or ‘compressed hours’ when job hunting
- Consider proposing it: If you’re a senior employee, consider presenting a four-day work week proposal to your current employer
- Look for companies with flexible work policies: Organisations already offering remote or flexible hours may be more open to four-day arrangements
- Network: Connect with professionals already working four-day weeks to learn about opportunities
The future of the four-day work week
As companies look to the future, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) reports that 34% of surveyed organisations foresee the four-day work week becoming standard practice for most UK workers within the next decade.
This work model is also gaining acceptance with European nations like Portugal and France marking a growing shift in how we approach work-life balance. And in Belgium, workers have the right to switch to a four-day work week, typically four 10-hour days.
‘The five-day week is not some law of nature,’ notes Morgan. ‘It’s a social construct that evolved during industrialisation. As we move deeper into the knowledge and service economy, there’s no reason to think our working patterns shouldn’t evolve again. Just as the weekend expanded from one day to two, we may well see three-day weekends become standard within a generation.’
Sources
- 4 Day Week Foundation
- 4 Day Week, Belgium
- 4 Day Week, France
- 4 Day Week, Portugal
- CIPD, A Third of Businesses Expect the Four-Day Week to Become a Reality in the Next Ten Years, New Research Shows
- CV Genius, Future of Work Survey
- CV Genius, Future of Flexible Work Report
- Marketing Signals
- NPR, Four-day Workweek Office Work Life
About CV Genius
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