A four-day working week is more productive for most staff and companies than the traditional five days, one of the biggest trials of its kind conducted in the UK reported.
Over 60 firms in Britain took part in the six-month experiment allowing almost 3,000 employees to work one day less per week while retaining the same salary.
Conducted between last June and December, it was organised by non-profit group 4 Day Week Global alongside the think tank Autonomy, the University of Cambridge and Boston College in the United States.
It has been described as the world's biggest trial of a four-day working week.
The study found more than nine out of ten firms will continue with the shortened working week or plan to do so, organisers said in a statement.
Just four percent will not extend it.
"Results are largely steady across workplaces of varying sizes, demonstrating this is an innovation which works for many types of organisations," said lead researcher and Boston College professor Juliet Schor.
Productivity did not suffer from the lighter working weeks, with company revenue rising 1.4 percent on average over the trial.
Revenue jumped 35 percent on average, when compared with similar periods from previous years.
The study also found that hiring increased and absenteeism dropped -- while the number of staff leaving fell sharply during the trial.
In addition, researchers concluded that the overall health and well-being of employees had improved.
"Significant" increases were observed in physical and mental health, time spent exercising, and overall life and job satisfaction.
Rates of stress, burnout and fatigue all fell, while problems with sleep declined, according to the statement.
- 'Really positive' -
"In terms of employees, their mental health improved, they got better sleep, they got less burnt out," Cambridge University's Professor Brendan Burchell told AFP.
"But at the same time, the companies reported that if there were changes in their profits or their performance, if anything they were more likely to go up rather than down.
"And we got lots of very happy people -- people really enjoyed it; they found it such a reward to have three day weekends instead of two day weekends."
UK environmental consultancy Tyler Grange was among 18 firms to adopt permanently the four-day week after taking part.
"My experience has only been really, really positive -- you can see it in people day-to-day at work, that they're more energized at work," Tyler Grange client director Nathan Jenkinson told AFP.
Employees "come into work at the start of the week on a Monday, having had three days rest, and they're feeling much more positive about work and got a lot more energy".
Tyler Grange reported that turnover increased slightly despite the reduced hours.
In recent years, studies into the four-day working week have spread globally as employers explore post-pandemic flexibility, including the concept of a hybrid workplace that enables more working from home.
Experiments on the shortened week have taken place across Europe, the United States and Canada, as well as in Australia and New Zealand.
However, asked if the UK government might adopt the trial as national policy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman sounded a cautious note, saying there were "no plans for that".
ETX Studio
Wed Feb 22 2023
![Four-day working week 'more productive': UK study Four-day working week 'more productive': UK study](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-02/61677057917_LONDON.jpg)
A four-day working week was found to be more productive for most staff and companies than the traditional five days, one of the biggest trials of its kind conducted in the UK concluded. - ETX Studio
Jualan penyaman udara naik mendadak di negara Balkan
Menetap di negara sejuk, mereka tidak pernah terfikir memasang penyaman udara di dalam rumah memandangkan musim panas bukanlah setiap hari. Namun, cuaca panas melampau membuatkan mereka bertukar fikiran.
![Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61706688348_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Kerajaan Malaysia mengecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan Masjid Al-Aqsa oleh ekstremis Zionis Israel pada 13 Ogos.
![Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723653359_TBMOKHTAR.jpg)
Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham
Ayah kepada penyanyi dan Youtubers Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar reda dengan pemergian anak lelakinya walaupun itu bukan pengakhiran yang beliau harapkan.
Ahli perniagaan diberkas, terlibat dalam aktiviti kumpulan mafia
Seorang ahli perniagaan Itali ditangkap di bandar Natal, Brazil pada selasa.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Srettha hormati keputusan mahkamah
Srettha Thavisin menghormati keputusan Mahkamah Perlembagaan Thailand yang memecatnya daripada jawatan Perdana Menteri.
Lahir empat hari lepas, bayi kembar maut angkara serangan rejim Zionis
Kembar lelaki diberikan nama Asser manakala Ayssel pula nama diberi buat kembar perempuan, kedua-duanya lahir pada 10 Ogos lepas.
Lelaki tikam ibu saudara direman tujuh hari
Seorang lelaki yang disyaki menikam ibu saudaranya di kepala dengan gunting, semalam direman selama tujuh hari hingga 21 Ogos ini.
PN senarai pendek tiga calon, akan diumum selepas PRK Nenggiri
Perikatan Nasional telah menyenarai pendek tiga calon untuk bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 28 September depan.
![10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu 10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41722145972_KebakaranGeneric.jpg)
10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu
Menurut PGOB kesemua mangsa yang cedera telah dikejarkan ke Hospital Bintulu untuk rawatan lanjut.
![Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham dibawa ke Hospital Shah Alam Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham dibawa ke Hospital Shah Alam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61713736324_HusseinOmarKhan.jpg)
Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham dibawa ke Hospital Shah Alam
Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar yang ditemukan di Sungai Klang petang tadi dibawa ke Unit Forensik Hospital Shah Alam (HSA) untuk urusan bedah siasat.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Sheikh Hasina akan tinggal di India sehingga peroleh suaka di Britain - Laporan Sheikh Hasina akan tinggal di India sehingga peroleh suaka di Britain - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721695161_SheikhHasina.jpg)
Sheikh Hasina akan tinggal di India sehingga peroleh suaka di Britain - Laporan
Sheikh Hasina yang melarikan diri dari negaranya dijangka tinggal di India sehingga Britain memberinya suaka.
![India dan Britain lancar inisiatif keselamatan teknologi India dan Britain lancar inisiatif keselamatan teknologi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721878547_DAVIDLAMMY.jpg)
India dan Britain lancar inisiatif keselamatan teknologi
Ia merangkumi bidang seperti telekomunikasi, kecerdasan buatan, kuantum, kesihatan dan bioteknologi, bahan termaju dan semikonduktor.
![Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720156983_RishiSunak.jpg)
Rishi Sunak akui kekalahan, ucap tahniah kepada Keir Starmer
Perdana Menteri Britain, Rishi Sunak, mengakui berdepan kekalahan dalam pilihan raya Britain dan menyatakan bahawa Parti Buruh pembangkang telah menang pada Jumaat.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71711145796_KingCharles.jpg)
Charles bangga keberanian Kate dedah rawatan kanser
Charles sangat bangga dengan Kate dan telah terus berhubung rapat dengan menantu kesayangannya itu selama beberapa minggu kebelakangan ini.
![Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51711145339_PrincessofWales.jpg)
Kate Middleton sahkan hidap kanser
Isteri pewaris takhta Putera William itu menyifatkan penemuan kanser itu sebagai "satu kejutan besar".
![Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/41708738320_BritainsKingCharl.jpg)
Raja Charles III terharu terima ribuan kad, titip ucapan dan doa
Istana Buckingham mengeluarkan gambar baginda yang kelihatan terhibur dan terharu membaca nota yang ditulis pada kad-kad ucapan.
![Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81704782823_Palestinians.jpg)
Britain, Finland pula tangguh biaya UNRWA susulan dakwaan Israel
Britain dan Finland telah menyertai negara-negara lain dalam menangguhkan pembiayaan kepada UNRWA.
![Britain dakwa serangan ke atas Houthi tiada kaitan konflik di Gaza - PM Rishi Sunak Britain dakwa serangan ke atas Houthi tiada kaitan konflik di Gaza - PM Rishi Sunak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61705367147_UKPrimeMinisterRi.jpg)
Britain dakwa serangan ke atas Houthi tiada kaitan konflik di Gaza - PM Rishi Sunak
Serangan itu adalah tindakan mempertahankan diri dan disasarkan dengan berhati-hati, kata Rishi Sunak.