Most of us can agree that there are some fundamental problems with the way we work today. From hustle culture to the whole girlboss trend, we are often encouraged to work more, regardless of whether that actually leads to better results for us or our employers.

However, the last few years have shown us that this approach simply isn’t working. As people have embraced  (or been forced to accept) “the grind” by working longer hours, we’ve seen a rise in cases of workplace anxiety and burnout. In fact, according to one recent study, almost half of working adults in the UK were approaching professional burnout in 2022. When it comes to work, people are reaching breaking point. 

So it’s no surprise that many are looking to shake up the current system and try a new approach. One of the most popular potential solutions is the four-day working week, a system that would see employees across the UK working for four days a week rather than five. And while the concept of the four-day working week has previously been met with scepticism from some business owners, studies are increasingly showing that giving workers a three-day weekend would have a wide range of benefits – and a new study might just be the most intriguing one so far. 

The new study from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne offers hope for champions of the four-day working week. According to researchers, giving employees a three-day weekend has no impact on staff productivity whatsoever.

The study involved the surveillance of 10 different organisations who were all trialling a four-day working week. Researchers evaluated the success of each trial by asking organisations about a range of factors: productivity, revenue, customer satisfaction, staff retention and absenteeism rates.

On almost every count, rates either increased or stayed the same – in other words, the researchers found no notable downsides to the shorter working week.

For example, 70% of employers participants reported that productivity levels had increased during a four-day work week, while the remaining 30% claimed they stayed the same. Employers also cited a “significant reduction in sick days”.

“When asked to rate how successful the four-day work week had been for them so far, on a scale of one to 10, employers gave it an average score of 9.25 out of 10,” the study claims.

As for workers, they also noted a number of benefits, including increased time for life admin, exercise, self-care and new hobbies.

The four-day working week has always been controversial. While many have claimed that working fewer days in a row can increase productivity and job satisfaction while reducing cases of burnout, businesses have often been hesitant about paying their workers the same wages for – as some see it – less work. But this new Australian study is just the latest example of research that indicates the potential benefits of the four-day working week. 

In fact, UK studies have also concluded that giving workers a ‘gift day’ can improve productivity and revenue, while improving the satisfaction and work-life balance of employees. In other words, it’s a win-win for both employers and employees.

At the end of 2022, the non-profit 4 Day Week Global conducted a six-month trial of the four-day working week. The trial spanned over 60 different organisations, making it the largest UK study to date. Businesses found that productivity and performance improved, while revenue rose by 35%. A staggering 91% of employers who participated stated that they planned on sticking with the four-day working week after the trial had concluded.

“This is a major breakthrough moment for the movement towards a four-day work week,” said Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign at the time. “Across a wide variety of different sectors of the economy, these incredible results show that the four-day week with no loss of pay really works.”

As more and more studies demonstrate the benefits of the four-day working week, you may be wondering if it will ever become the norm here in the UK? There is a chance that it could. According to a 2023 YouGov poll of over 1,000 corporations, only 15% of businesses now “strongly oppose” the idea.

Back in 2019, a 32-hour working week was part of Labour’s manifesto during the general election campaign. In 2020, a number of MPs signed a letter published by The Independent in which they called for a four-day working week during the pandemic. The subject was debated in Parliament for the first time in 2022.

Although the four-day working week hasn’t yet been implemented by government, a number of UK companies have elected to try the four-day working week for themselves in 2023. These companies include Dunelm, Atom Bank, JMK Solicitors and Scoro.

The four-day working week movement is picking up steam here in the UK – and with a growing body of research to show its benefits, it may be ever closer to becoming a reality.

Images: Getty