Results Of Four Day Working Week Trial In
As we highlighted in a previous article, a second four day working week pilot began on the 4th November 2024, with 1000 workers from 17 businesses taking part. The pilot was scheduled to last 6 months, and has now concluded. Moreover, the results have now been published.
The objectives behind the four day working week pilot was to determine whether the four day working week delivers an increase in productivity, as well as improvements in health, wellbeing, work life balance, and staff retention.
Findings
The main findings of the four day working week pilot were as follows:
- All 17 companies in the four day week trial plan to continue the new four day working week schedule permanently.
- 62% of employees reported reduced burnout during the trial period.
- Companies involved were able to successfully maintain service standards and key performance metrics, whilst also observing positive changes in the wellbeing of their employees.
- 41% of employees reported improved psychological well-being, and 45% reported enhanced work-life balance.
Reaction
Commenting upon the findings of the four day working week pilot, the campaign director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, Joe Ryle, stated: "With greater knowledge, expertise and experience of what it takes to successfully implement a four-day week, we’re really pleased to see such a high success rate. People are happier, businesses are thriving, and there’s no turning back. We’ve proved it again and again: a four-day week works and should now be implemented more widely across the economy."
Current Position
The right of employees to request flexible working, including going onto a four day working week, has been a day one right since the 6th April 2024. Nevertheless, employers have the right to reject such requests on a number of grounds, including detrimental impact upon the quality / performance of work, higher business costs, making it more difficult to meet customer demand, difficulties in reorganising work among existing staff or in hiring additional staff, lack of work, and incompatibility with a planned restructure.
Employment Rights Bill
Nevertheless, the Government is planning to strengthen employees rights further via its Employment Rights Bill, by making flexible working the “default” from day one for employees except where it is not “reasonably feasible”. In practice, however, how this differs from what the law already is at the moment is somewhat unclear other than it is likely under the new legislation to become more difficult for employers to reject flexible working requests.
Data Skills Gap Threatens UK’s AI Ambitions
A new report compiled by Multiverse highlights how insufficient data skills are stalling the UK’s progress in capitalising on artificial intelligence, costing businesses an estimated £62 billion each year.
The survey, based on over 14,500 employees across 16 sectors, reveals that workers lose a staggering 27 days annually to inefficient data handling - over 10% of working time.
Despite significant investment in AI and tools like ChatGPT, only a small fraction of employees actively use generative AI, with most rating their proficiency as basic. Key industries such as healthcare, defence, and finance are especially hard-hit, with large portions of their time spent on ineffective data work.
The majority of workers struggle with analysing data efficiently and visualising insights, while few feel confident identifying valuable AI opportunities.
Commenting upon the findings, the Founder and CEO of Multiverse, Euan Blair, states: "The conversation needs to shift from 'what can AI do?' to 'what can our people do with AI?'. This should be a wake up call: the real barrier to AI adoption isn't the technology itself, it’s the capability of the workforce to use it. It’s like everyone’s got access to iPhones but they’re only using them to make calls. The strategic imperative is clear: invest in deep, role-specific training that empowers employees not just to use AI, but to innovate with it safely and effectively."
