![[Global] Findings from four-day work week pilot](http://globalpayrollassociation.com/cdn/shop/articles/bigstock-Interior-of-empty-modern-offic-427473125_1_1200x.jpg?v=1672995628)
Findings from 4 Day Week Global’s most extensive four-day week pilot have been published. They reveal that participating companies experienced increased revenue alongside reduced absenteeism and resignations, while employees experienced a significant increase in health and wellbeing, Business Tech reports.
The four-day week is based on the 100-80-100 model, which prescribes 100 per cent of the pay for 80 per cent of the time in exchange for a commitment to delivering 100 per cent of the output.
These findings reportedly follow the participation of more than 30 companies and almost 1,000 employees in countries including the US, Ireland and Australia in a six-month four-day week pilot programme which recently concluded. The UK data, which began in June 2022, is expected to be released in early 2023.
According to the report, workers felt less stressed and burnt out and reported higher rates of life satisfaction. Findings also show significant declines in the duration and frequency of commuting, meaning employees got more time to be productive.
Business Tech summarised the most notable outcomes of the report:
- On average, revenue increased across all companies by 8.1 per cent over the trial period and increased by 38 per cent compared to the same period in 2021;
- Employee fatigue decreased by 10 per cent;
- Employee stress and mental health issues decreased by 32 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively;
- On average, employees engaged in 27 minutes of additional physical activity per week;
- Work and family life balance increased by 60 per cent, while relationships with colleagues and family members improved by 44.9 per cent; and
- Overall, life satisfaction increased by 57.5 per cent.
In addition, the report noted that participating companies rated the trial a nine out of ten, expressing extreme satisfaction with their overall productivity and performance. None of the companies returned to a five-day week after the trial concluded.
70 per cent of the employees surveyed said they’d need a 10-50 per cent pay increase to return to a five-day work week.
Four-day week South Africa trial scheduled for early 2023
4 Day Week South Africa director Karen Lowe told Cape Talk that a four-day work week pilot would start in South Africa in February 2023. She said 20 companies have signed up for the trial with the pilot scheduled to run for six months.
“I’m positive that the 38 per cent increase in revenue seen in the new data was partly due to the Covid-19 recovery, but we’re seeing improvements in company performance, productivity, and phenomenal employee health and wellbeing data,” Ms Lowe said.
She added that there are hopes the same results will be seen after the pilot in South Africa – especially when considering sub-Saharan Africa’s current workplace sentiments.
Only 21 per cent of employees in sub-Saharan Africa feel engaged with their work and evaluate their life as thriving, according to Gallup’s State of Global Workplace 2022 report.
However, Ms Lowe is optimistic that the four-day week trial will offer a way to change these statistics. “The first concluded pilot just reported happier, healthier, and engaged employees, and that’s what we hope to see in the results when we start piloting next year,” she said.
Source: Business Tech
(Quotes via original reporting)
Findings from 4 Day Week Global’s most extensive four-day week pilot have been published. They reveal that participating companies experienced increased revenue alongside reduced absenteeism and resignations, while employees experienced a significant increase in health and wellbeing, Business Tech reports.
The four-day week is based on the 100-80-100 model, which prescribes 100 per cent of the pay for 80 per cent of the time in exchange for a commitment to delivering 100 per cent of the output.
These findings reportedly follow the participation of more than 30 companies and almost 1,000 employees in countries including the US, Ireland and Australia in a six-month four-day week pilot programme which recently concluded. The UK data, which began in June 2022, is expected to be released in early 2023.
According to the report, workers felt less stressed and burnt out and reported higher rates of life satisfaction. Findings also show significant declines in the duration and frequency of commuting, meaning employees got more time to be productive.
Business Tech summarised the most notable outcomes of the report:
- On average, revenue increased across all companies by 8.1 per cent over the trial period and increased by 38 per cent compared to the same period in 2021;
- Employee fatigue decreased by 10 per cent;
- Employee stress and mental health issues decreased by 32 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively;
- On average, employees engaged in 27 minutes of additional physical activity per week;
- Work and family life balance increased by 60 per cent, while relationships with colleagues and family members improved by 44.9 per cent; and
- Overall, life satisfaction increased by 57.5 per cent.
In addition, the report noted that participating companies rated the trial a nine out of ten, expressing extreme satisfaction with their overall productivity and performance. None of the companies returned to a five-day week after the trial concluded.
70 per cent of the employees surveyed said they’d need a 10-50 per cent pay increase to return to a five-day work week.
Four-day week South Africa trial scheduled for early 2023
4 Day Week South Africa director Karen Lowe told Cape Talk that a four-day work week pilot would start in South Africa in February 2023. She said 20 companies have signed up for the trial with the pilot scheduled to run for six months.
“I’m positive that the 38 per cent increase in revenue seen in the new data was partly due to the Covid-19 recovery, but we’re seeing improvements in company performance, productivity, and phenomenal employee health and wellbeing data,” Ms Lowe said.
She added that there are hopes the same results will be seen after the pilot in South Africa – especially when considering sub-Saharan Africa’s current workplace sentiments.
Only 21 per cent of employees in sub-Saharan Africa feel engaged with their work and evaluate their life as thriving, according to Gallup’s State of Global Workplace 2022 report.
However, Ms Lowe is optimistic that the four-day week trial will offer a way to change these statistics. “The first concluded pilot just reported happier, healthier, and engaged employees, and that’s what we hope to see in the results when we start piloting next year,” she said.
Source: Business Tech
(Quotes via original reporting)