UK Launches First Four-Day Work Week Trial

A new pilot program for a four-day work week has been launched in the UK, involving 1,000 employees from 17 companies, including Crate Brewery and the British Society for Immunology. Participants will maintain full pay while working four days a week, following a successful trial in 2022 that led many businesses to adopt the model permanently. The initiative, organized by the 4 Day Week Campaign, will collect data on employee productivity, morale, and burnout, with results expected to be presented to the Labour government next summer. While the Labour Party has seen a surge in support for this model, it has not yet adopted it as official policy. Businesses like Crate Brewery anticipate that the trial will enhance recruitment efforts and employee satisfaction in the competitive hospitality sector. The trial highlights a growing interest in flexible working arrangements among UK businesses, with nearly 200 already having made the switch to a four-day week.