The four-day working week is the buzzword of the year so far — and it is easy to see why.
UK trials have shown overwhelmingly positive results, an exciting prospect for business owners and employees alike.
But how much could it transform our working lives if implemented across the country tomorrow?
The experts at Forward Role crunched the numbers to see how much of our working lives we would get back.
And with April marking Stress Awareness Month, they also looked at the facts to understand how beneficial that time could be for reducing those cortisol levels and helping us all live longer, healthier lives.
How much time does the 4-day week give back over a lifetime?
They calculated that switching to a 4-day work week could save the average UK worker a jaw-dropping 8.3 years of their work lives.
We first needed to know how much time the average person works each week in the UK. According to Statista, the most recent figure is 36.5 hours. That averages out to 7.28 hours per weekday.
Next, they had to determine how many hours that equated per year. Factoring in time off, the average person works 49 weeks per year. That means the average person works 1,789 hours per year. Under a 4-day work week, they would get back 357 hours.
Now to work out how many years a person works in a lifetime. They estimated that the average person enters full-time employment at the age of 20. On average, UK men retire at 65.1 years old, whereas women retire at 64. So the average person in the UK works for 44.55 years.
Based on this, we can conclude that a 4-day workweek would save the typical worker a staggering 15,904 hours, which — based on 256 working days in a year — means they’d get back the equivalent of 8.5 years at work. That is an effective retirement age of 56.
Will the 4-day week become the norm in the UK?
Before the recent UK trials, there were some big questions about the tangible benefits of such a scheme, especially for employers.
But the research shows that while employees enjoy the extra downtime and the mental health benefits that come with it, there were some big positives for businesses’ bottom lines, too. And other companies are taking note.
“Over the last year or so, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of job postings offering a 4-day work week,” says Brian Johnson, Director at Forward Role.
“We’re also finding that candidates gravitate towards these jobs or are specifically looking for them. It’s one of the key factors separating some employers from the rest of the pack; they’re being inundated with applications from quality candidates for whom work-life balance is now a higher priority.”
You can find out how flexible working has become a higher priority in our recent Salary Guide report.
What are the benefits of getting back all this time?
-
More time with family and friends
In the switch to remote and hybrid working over the last few years, UK workers have discovered the emotional benefits of ditching the traditional commute in favour of spending more time with loved ones.
And research shows that there is a tangible benefit. A unique study into happiness found that social connections are among the most important factors for wellbeing and health. Another study found that family time increases parents’ wellbeing, especially if couples can spend quality time with one another.
Brian commented that family time is increasingly vital to job-seekers today. “Time with loved ones is becoming a non-negotiable for many high-performing candidates. The 4-day work week gives workers extra time to plan days out with their kids or spouses.”
“Quality time strengthens relationships, helping workers feel more secure and connected in their private lives,” Brian says. “They’ll likely find it easier to focus at work.”
-
More time for hobbies
A shorter working week doesn’t simply equate to more downtime. There are significant benefits for employees who use their extra time to invest in personal projects, be it private hobbies or team-based sports.
One study found that making art lowered participants’ cortisol levels (the key hormone related to stress) by as much as 75 percent. It found that creative activities can lead to an improved sense of wellbeing and mission that has long-lasting positive effects.
“Hobbies offer people a way to engage a different part of their brain than at work,” says Brian. “Getting back time to invest in personal projects could create the ideal space to switch focus, put work problems into perspective, and come back on Monday morning with a solution to a work issue they wouldn’t have discovered during a hectic weekend.”
-
Lower risk of depression
It may be unsurprising that working long hours increases your risk of stress — but did you know it can heighten your risk of depression too?
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found links between depression symptoms and working long hours. Experts citing the study have highlighted that the more we work, the less time we have to exhibit self-care — we sleep less, eat worse, and don’t exercise as often.
“Getting back extra time in the week gives people who are normally stretched time to look after themselves,” says Brian. “Good mental health should be a top priority for any organisation: the personal and financial costs of something like depression are far too high not to tackle it head-on.”
“The 4-day week provides an extra tool in everyone’s arsenal to maintain their mental health.”
-
More productive employees
There are plenty of benefits to the mental wellbeing of staff who can take advantage of a 4-day work week. But what about employers?
It is well known that happier employees work harder. In an experiment at the University of Warwick, economists found that participants with high happiness scores were around 12 percent more productive than their peers.
“The research shows that employers might do better to focus on the rewards of a shorter work week rather than the costs,” says Brian. “Trading an extra day for a week-long productivity boost will be hugely advantageous over time. A shorter week also forces people to ‘trim the fat’ in their day — unnecessary meetings, unimportant admin — and focus on what matters instead.”
-
Better staff retention and hiring potential
One of the most significant cost-savings of the 4-day work week is less time spent replacing departing staff. In the recent UK trial, the number of staff leaving participating companies dropped by a massive 57 percent.
And with a shorter week quickly climbing the priority list for those entering the job market, companies meeting the criteria have a better chance of hiring the top candidates.
“In a competitive recruitment landscape, the last thing you want is a high staff turnover, especially if your company benefits fall behind your rivals,” says Brian.
“Based on the trial results, businesses that switch to a 4-day work week could focus their recruitment efforts on growth and attracting the best talent rather than filling the gaps in their existing model. That’s a massive competitive advantage.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
