All 17 organisations that took part in the latest UK trial of a four-day working week have opted to continue with the model or a variation of it, citing significant improvements in staff wellbeing, mental health, and productivity.
The six-month pilot, run by the 4 Day Week Foundation and monitored by researchers at Boston College in the United States, involved nearly 1,000 employees across a broad mix of sectors — including housing, professional associations, sports bodies, and student unions. Participants reduced working hours without reducing pay.
Following the trial’s conclusion, 12 of the participating organisations committed to a permanent four-day workweek, while five adopted a “nine-day fortnight” — giving employees every other Friday off.
Among the companies adopting the four-day model permanently is Bron Afon Community Housing, which employs over 400 staff. Chief Executive Alan Brunt said the shift had brought no dip in performance or customer satisfaction. “We’ve closely monitored our performance and customer satisfaction. We’re happy with the results so far and will continue to make sure we’re delivering for our customers,” he said.
Other participating organisations included the British Society for Immunology, the Scottish Sports Association, and the National Union of Students. The majority were small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, though the trial also included larger firms.
The results align with broader findings from earlier pilots of the four-day week. According to the 4 Day Week Foundation, 62% of employees reported experiencing less burnout, 41% said their mental health had improved, and 45% said they were more satisfied with life overall.
Joe Ryle, campaign director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, hailed the success of the latest trial. “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.”
So far, more than 235 UK companies have earned accreditation from the Foundation for permanently adopting a four-day week without cutting salaries — representing over 6,000 workers.
While the previous Conservative government dismissed the concept as “part-time work for full-time pay,” the new Labour-led administration appears more open to the idea. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has expressed support, stating that a four-day week poses “no threat to the economy,” though the policy is not currently included in the government’s forthcoming Employment Rights Bill.
Nonetheless, momentum for a shorter working week appears to be growing. Employers report benefits in staff retention, recruitment, and overall morale — suggesting the four-day week may soon become a mainstream feature of the modern workplace.
