Over 100,000 UK workers switch to full-time four-day week since pandemic
More than 100,000 workers in the UK have switched to a full-time four-day week since the pandemic, further signaling a revolution in the world of work inspired by Covid, according to an analysis.
Nearly 1.4 million people reported working full-time on four days of the week between October and December 2024, an increase of over 100,000 compared to the same period in 2019, when 1.29 million reported this work schedule, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Campaigners and some economists argue that a four-day week benefits workers by giving them more time to relax and reducing strain on their mental health while helping businesses by making their staff more motivated and facilitating recruitment and retention.
An additional 100,000 people reported working a part-time four-day week between October and December 2024 compared to the same period in 2019.
As a result, the percentage of people in the UK reporting a four-day workweek has risen from 9.8% in the last three months of 2019 to 10.9%, representing 2.7 million across full- and part-time work.
The figures do not clarify whether those adopting shorter workweeks have compressed their hours or accepted a pay cut to do so.
The 4 Day Week Foundation, which advocates for more businesses to adopt shorter workweeks without a loss of pay for staff, has reported that over 420 companies, employing more than 12,000 workers, have adopted a four-day week since the pandemic.
This is based on the number of companies that have signed up to the foundation’s employer accreditation scheme and those who have publicized their adoption of a shorter week.
The foundation is advocating for a four-day, 32-hour workweek to become standard in Britain for all employees, without requiring a salary reduction.
Sam Hunt, the business network coordinator at the 4 Day Week Foundation, said: “The nine to five, five-day week is a century-old model that no longer fits the way we live and work today. We’re long overdue for an update. A four-day week with no loss of pay is about freedom – the freedom to live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.”
The pandemic upended the world of work for many professionals, making hybrid working the “new normal” for more than a quarter of working adults in Great Britain, according to ONS figures.
However, the ongoing tug-of-war between employers and employees has meant some workers have had to fight for the right to continue working from home in the face of return-to-office mandates, let alone reduce their number of working days.
One local authority is leading the way. South Cambridgeshire district council voted last month to permanently adopt a four-day week, becoming the first UK council to do so. Its 700 staff can opt into the scheme, where they are expected to complete 100% of their work in about 80% of their contracted hours, with no pay reduction.
After a 27-month trial, the council reported faster planning applications, housing repairs, and benefits processing. Additionally, it noted improved staff motivation, reduced turnover, and an annual saving of nearly £400,000 by permanently filling vacancies instead of relying on expensive agency workers.
It is understood that several other councils are trialing a four-day week.
South Cambridgeshire district council came under pressure to drop its trial from the previous Conservative government, which issued guidance stating it did not support a four-day working week in local authorities and said it did “not believe that it delivers local taxpayers value for money.”
However, the Labour government withdrew the guidance in November. Instead, it stated that local authorities are “independent employers” who are “rightly responsible for the management and organization of their workforces.”
Several senior Labour politicians, including the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, have expressed support for a four-day week, although the party has not adopted this policy since coming to power.
The Scottish government launched a four-day week pilot in early 2024, and the results of the year-long trial involving two public sector bodies are expected to be published soon.
Marketing and technology companies and charities have been at the forefront of adopting four-day weeks so far, according to research by the 4 Day Week Foundation.
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