Responding to the six-month trial of a four-day week [1] which involved 61 companies almost 3000 workers, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:
“A four-day week works. This trial has shown it reduces stress, lowers levels of burnout, and prevents employees quitting.
“And while employees have had an extra day a week to do what they want or need to do, all without any loss to their pay, the companies involved report no decline in company revenue. What’s not to like about a four-day week?
“Workers in the UK currently work the longest hours in Europe [2]. This is having a detrimental effect on mental health and wellbeing for employees and reduced productivity for employers. It’s clear that our current model simply isn’t working.
“Greens have long championed the idea of a four-day week. This sixth-month trial proves that if it was to become the norm across the country we would have happier, more productive employees. There are clearly benefits for employers too, with less staff absence and higher retention rates; nearly all those involved in the trial have opted to retain the four-day week.”
Notes
[1] Nearly all firms stick with four-day week after 'incredible' trial of shorter hours - Mirror Online
[2] https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/british-workers-putting-longest-hours-eu-tuc-analysis-finds