Explainer: Could Scotland move to a four-day working week and which companies are trialling the move?

Working from home, hybrid working, flexible working – in a post-pandemic world, employees are looking for increased flexibility from their employers in search of the elusive work/life balance.

As companies listen to changing needs from their employees, a new working model has emerged – the four-day working week.

In essence, it seeks to redefine the traditional 9 to 5 – meaning workers can enjoy an extra day off alongside their weekends.

But are employers receptive to a change in office hours?

Who is calling for a change to the working week?

The 4 Day Week Foundation has been calling for a change to working hours and has run a series of pilots involving hundreds of companies across the UK.

The organisation’s manifesto calls for a four-day working week, reducing typical working hours of 48 to 32 per week, with no loss of pay.

The 4 Day Week Foundation is also calling for a bill to be introduced in parliament, which would pay staff 1.5 times their ordinary pay when carrying out overtime.

Employees are looking for a better work/life balance. iStock

Current UK Government guidance on flexible working says it can include job shares, working from home, part-time and compressed hours, flexitime, annualised hours, staggered hours, and phased retirement.

The 4 Day Week Foundation wants the government to extend this to add the four-day week into the guidance.

In November last year, 17 companies signed up to the latest six-month trial organised by the foundation, with nearly 1,000 workers taking part.

The trial has now come to an end, and the results are surprising.

How did a four-day work week impact participants?

According to the 4 Day Week Foundation, the impact on employees was incredibly positive.

The pilot was determined to have had a 100% success rate, with almost two-thirds of workers reporting a reduction in experiencing burnout.

Additionally, two in five found their mental health had improved, and almost half felt more satisfied with life.

Workers were found to be 'happier' when taking part in a four-day working week trial. — Workers were found to be ‘happier’ when taking part in a four-day working week trial. iStock

Joe Ryle, campaign director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, said: “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.”

But how did the pilot impact the companies involved?

It appears the pilot was also positive for business, with organisations able to maintain service levels and key performance indicators.

Improved employee well-being was also a bonus for companies that took part in the pilot.

One participating company, Bron Afron Community Housing in Wales, said they were happy with performance and customer satisfaction, and plan to extend the pilot for their 420 employees.

Alan Brunt from the company said: “I expect that most organisations will be doing this in the next ten years or so.”

Will a four-day working week come to Scotland?

For some companies, the four-day working week has already arrived north of the border.

Dozens of companies have been accredited with the 4 Day Week Foundation, offering permanent contracts with 35-hour or fewer four-day weeks, with a reduction of hours and no loss of pay.

Edinburgh Council is considering cutting down the working week. iStock

But it’s not just companies getting involved – local authorities are exploring cutting down the working week.

In June, Edinburgh Council announced it would explore implementing a trial of a four-day working week after a successful pilot at South Cambridgeshire District Council saved the council £300,000 in agency worker fees.

Which Scottish companies are implementing four-day working weeks?

The following companies based in Scotland have been accredited as 4 Day Week Employers, offering at least a permanent 35-hour or less four-day working week, with a reduction of hours and no loss of pay.