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- Two-thirds of staffers prefer RTO for a four-day work week than work hybrid for five days, per a survey.
- One-third of employers would be more likely to consider a four-day work week if staff RTO every day.
- The UK trialed a four-day work week from June to December last year with 3,300 workers at 70 firms.
A survey of 12,000 UK employees may have found the solution to bring employees back to the office willingly: a four-day workweek.
About two-thirds of British professionals said they would rather return to the office every day in a four-day week rather than have a hybrid five-day workweek, according to a March 17 survey by Hays, a recruitment company. For the survey, Hays polled about 11,889 employees and employers across the UK from February 6 through February 20.
And employers seem to agree — about one-third would be more likely to consider offering a four-day workweek if employees came to the office daily.
While just about 5% of survey respondents said their companies have introduced or are trialing a four-day workweek, an overwhelming 92% of those on the trial said the shorter workweek had a positive impact on their home lives. People typically spend their extra day off doing household chores, running errands, taking part in leisure activities, or spending time with friends and family, per the survey.
On top of that, just under 90% of survey respondents said a four-day workweek could improve employee mental health and well-being.
About two-thirds of those surveyed even said they would be tempted to join another organization should it offer a four-day workweek.
The UK trialed a four-day workweek between June to December 2022, with 3,300 workers at 70 UK firms participating in the experiment. In the experiment, the employees slashed their weekly hours by 20% but did not have to take a pay cut.
Of the 61 companies that took part in the trial, 56 said they would continue, while 18 said they would make it a permanent arrangement. Researchers found fewer workers resigned or took sick days off during the trial period when compared to the year before. Businesses that shared sales figures also reported higher revenues in the same period.
Workers, too, felt the benefits of a four-day workweek — about 70% reported lower levels of burnout.
Kieran Woof, a senior science-policy officer at the Royal Society of Biology, told Insider's Beatrice Nolan in March that having four-day work means means " you go back into the working week a lot more energized and mentally a lot more prepared and motivated."