60 UK companies with 3,000 employees will start a four-day week from June 1 – employees will have an even longer weekend without losing their paycheck. Companies have signed up to participate in a pilot batch of campaigns led by 4 Day Week Global – and will run for six months.
The system is based on the idea that employees will receive 100% of their salary 80% of the time. During the trial, the companies will work with researchers to document the productivity effects, The Mirror reports.
They also monitor the welfare and impact of workers on the environment and gender equality. Atom Bank became one of the newest four-day week adapters last week when it transitioned to consistently long weekends with no pay cuts.
Instead of reducing staff hours, it extended four working days. Some companies have reduced working hours to provide workers with a permanent 32-hour work week without losing wages.
In August 2019, Microsoft Japan introduced a four-day-a-week system, laying off 2,300 employees for five consecutive Fridays. The company said productivity increased by 40%, meetings were more productive, and workers, who were happier, took less time.
Iceland organized a four-day work week in 2015-2019, which the researchers described as “more successful”. The jobs in question, including hospitals and schools, have moved from 40 hours a week to 36 or 35 hours, with some reporting an improvement in productivity among employees.
The operation eventually involved more than 2,500 workers, representing about 1% of the Icelandic workforce.
Sixty UK-based companies will participate in the test. 28 publicly agreed to the name.
These employers include:
Cage – Game Developers
U Telecom – Telecom Services
Adzooma – Online Marketing Company
Low pressure brewing – in the brewery
Saeed – Consulting Services in the Workplace
Platten’s Fish and Chips – Chips shop in Norfolk
Eurowagens – Retail sale of auto parts
Bookishly – Online book and gift shop
Results of the first group – education and alternative care services
NeatClean – An eco-friendly cleaning company
5 squirrel – skin care brand consulting
Salamandra – Animation Studio
Girling Jones – Recruitment Company
AKA Case Management – Case Management Company
IE Brand & Digital – Marketing Company
Helping Hands – Home Care Services
Trio Media – Marketing Agency
Artisan Humans – Marketing Agency
Physiquipe – Technical Study for Rehabilitation
Tyler Grange – Landscape Planning Consultants
Timberlake Consultants is a software engineering company
Royal Society of Biology – professional body
Everledge – Technical Study
Scottish International Development Alliance – an industry body for Scottish charities
Capacity – Technical Company
Stemette Futures – Education Organization
Comcen – Sale of Computer Materials Details
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Source: Belfastlive
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
