- Maintaining wages, 73 British companies have reduced the working week to four days in a six-month pilot test. According to the survey of the participating companies, productivity has not decreased, they are very satisfied with the experience and it is possible that after the pilot a 4-day working week will be held.
This is one of the largest investigations that have been carried out so far in this area and the pilot test will end in November. The results will then be made known, as the impact of the new working week on productivity, worker welfare, the environment and gender equality is being studied.
However, a survey of participants has already been carried out and 41 of the 73 companies have responded. 35 of them indicated that they would probably maintain a working week of four days after the completion of the pilot experience. Of the 41 companies, with the exception of two, all the others claim that they maintain or improve the same productivity they had during five days of activity. And, according to six companies, productivity has improved considerably, while activity has decreased.
The heads of companies say that the new organization has dedicated more time to workers to exercise, cook, spend time with family and friends… and that in addition to improving their well-being, they go more energy to work, they are more productive in working hours.
Over 3,300 workers participate in the pilot test in different areas: banks, marketing, health care, financial services, commerce, industry…
The test has also been carried out in Iceland, which has lasted for years, and has been a “total success”, as we have already said.