How the four 4 work week can be good for business
Here are four ways in which the 4 day work week benefits your business results in areas such as finances, human resources, employee engagement and organization.
1. Retention and Attrition
Employees are far less likely to leave their job when a four day work week is implemented, our pilot programs have shown. The largest ever trial with 60 participating companies reported a 57% drop in attrition over the course of the trial.
Despite having less time to complete their work in, employees feel less stressed and less burnt out meaning they have greater enjoyment in their work, reducing their need to search for a new role.
According to a study by the University of Reading and University of Surrey, 63% of businesses reported improvements in the quality of employee work and overall well-being after implementing a 4-day work week.
2. Revenue and Reduced Costs
Our research has shown revenue increases up to 35% for a six-month pilot of the four-day work week, when compared to a similar financial period. Revenue continues to improve for longer trials of the four day work week, proving its not just a short-term phenomenon.
A shorter work week can lead to cost savings in areas like utilities and office supplies. For example, Microsoft Japan reported a 23% decrease in electricity costs during their 4-day work week trial.
Companies might also see a reduction in the number of sick days taken by employees, leading to increased productivity and lower costs associated with employee absence. The UK pilot program saw a 65% reduction in the number of days taken off as paid sick time.
3. Attracting the Best Talent
It’s a crowded market out there and every organization is looking to hire the best talent. Having a four day work week as part of your organization culture is a huge employee perk that makes you stand out from your competitors.
In fact, between one in 10 and 15% of our pilot program participants report that “no amount of money” would convince them to return to a five day work week.
A survey by Henley Business School found that over half of the workers said they would choose a 4-day work week even if their pay remained the same.
4. Increasing Efficiency
Our 100-80-100™ model for the 4 day work week speaks to this - 100% pay, for 80% time, for 100% productivity. While the promise of the 4 day week is to maintaining productivity levels, what we actually have found is that productivity goes up.
Microsoft Japan experimented with a 4-day work week and found that productivity increased by nearly 40%. Similarly, a study from the Henley Business School found that two-thirds of businesses reported an improvement in productivity due to a 4-day work week.
How can I improve my business with a 4 day week?
We offer support for businesses looking to make the shift to reduced-hour working in several ways:
1. Our Foundation Course
Our Foundation Course is designed for business leaders, consultants and entrepreneurs looking to understand how to implement a 4 day week in their organization, or to support the implementation of one in another organization.
We teach you through six video lecture modules, using the 100-80-100™ model.
2. Our Pilot Programs
We run 4 day week pilots using the 100-80-100™ principle across the globe. You can trial a 4 day week alongside other organizations in your geography. There are many pilots happening in various countries across the world.
Sign up here to register your interest in being a part of one of our pilots and we will let you know when the pilot in your country is kicking off! Alternatively, we have two global pilots happening in 2024, in March and September.
3. One-on-One Consulting
This is for larger organizations who want bespoke one-on-one support throughout the 4 day week planning and implementation process. We will provide you with world-leading experts in reducing working hours to help you on this journey.
