'Some hurdles' | Four-day week trial firms reveal scheme's ups and downs

British businesses have shed light on the pros and cons of the four-day work week, as a ground-breaking six-month trial of the scheme in the UK reaches its halfway point. 

A wide range of different businesses from, small companies to large corporates, are still engaging in a six-month trial of a four-day week, which has opened up the debate over whether this trial will result in success or reinforce the concept of a traditional five-day working week.

More than 70 organisations across the UK signed up for the  trial, which started at the beginning of June and is being run by 4 Day Week Global. Of the 73 organisations conducting the trial period, 41 have taken part in a recent survey in which 86% responded that they would continue with the four-day week policy after the trial ends.

The initial idea behind the trial is put forth by the 4 Day Week Global CEO, Joe O’Connor, which stated: “The organisations in the UK pilot are contributing real-time data and knowledge that are worth their weight in gold. Essentially, they are laying the foundation for the future of work by putting a four-day week into practice.”