Over 200 UK firms now have a four-day workweek with full pay

More than 200 UK companies have switched to a permanent four-day working week with no pay loss, according to research by a campaign group.

This marks the latest milestone in the campaign to reinvent the way British people work, the 4 Day Week Foundation said.

The companies range from marketing agencies, IT firms and consultancies to non-profit organisations employing more than 5,000 people.

The foundation’s campaign director Joe Ryle said the five-day week was “invented 100 years ago” and is “no longer fit for purpose”.

He said: “With 50% more free time, a four-day week gives people the freedom to live happier, more fulfilling lives.”

Supporters of the policy say that committing to shorter weeks is a useful way to attract and retain employees but also improve their overall wellbeing.

So far London-based companies are the most enthusiastic, making up 59 of the 200 companies that adopted the policy.

While four-day weeks are growing in popularity, many employees are still battling to continue to work from home, let alone have a shorter week.

In the US, investment bank JP Morgan and tech giant Amazon have demanded that staff return to the office full time, despite having allowed hybrid working patterns since the Covid-19 pandemic.

A new survey by Spark Market Research has revealed that 78% of 18- to 34-year-olds believe a four-day working week will become the norm within the next five years, while 65% said they are opposed to a return to traditional full-time office working.

Lynsey Carolan, managing director of Spark, said that this age group, which will form the core of the workforce for the next 50 years, is clearly signalling its intention to not return to old fashioned working patterns.

She also highlighted that mental health and improving overall wellbeing “are top priorities” for this generation, making the four-day week a meaningful benefit and key contributing factor to their quality of life.

The trial for office-based staff was launched at the beginning of 2023, before being extended to include employees in the waste collection service.