Remember when we were all burning with envy over the lucky few chosen to take part in the four-day work week experiment? The six-month scheme, which took place in 2022, was the largest-ever trial of the concept. The results, which were released this year, showed the benefits to employees’ mental and physical health, and almost every company that took part decided to continue with the reduced hours.
Now, thinktank Autonomy has released a new report forecasting where workers are most likely to adopt the four-day work week over the next decade. And interestingly, they’re all in the south east of England. They are: City of London, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Elmbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth, St Albans and Wokingham.
Researchers also predicted that 28 percent of Britain’s workforce will be working 32 hours a week by 2033 as artificial technology (AI) advances and allows us to take more time off. At a summit at Bletchley Park earlier this month, Elon Musk went as far to say that AI will eventually mean none of us will have to work at all. A blissful idea or nightmare scenario? You decide.
Will Stronge, director of research at Autonomy, said: ‘Our research offers a fresh perspective in debates around how AI can be utilised for good.
‘A shorter working week is the most tangible way of ensuring that AI delivers benefits to workers as well as companies. If AI is to be implemented fairly across the economy, it should usher in a new era of four-day working weeks for all.’
The low-down on four-day work weeks
Essentially a four-day working week means you earn the same amount of money and get the same amount of holiday as you do right now, but work one day less each and every week. Studies have shown that it can actually increase productivity, reduce carbon emissions and improve gender equality in the workplace. What’s not to love?
Delve deeper and check out our 12 main takeaways from the 2022 trial and our conversation with three people who took part.
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