In recent months, the four-day work week has been gaining some serious momentum in the UK in particular, as the result of a widely publicized pilot programme. However, a lot of the media focus has been on businesses’ responses to the pilot, as opposed to the experiences or opinions of workers themselves. To that end, Talent.com partnered with YouGov to survey 1,352 participants working in British businesses to get a better understanding of what the UK workforce really thinks about the four-day work week. The key findings are shared below.
Out of all the most important benefits an employer can offer, the four-day work week ranks fourth in importance after yearly salary increases, vacation days, and flexible hours. This factor was ranked higher than insurance benefits and even having a fully remote position.
If employers were to make a four-day work week a reality, important questions would have to be answered about the total number of working hours per week. Of survey participants, a majority (35%) thought the shorter work week should be made up of 30 to 32 hours, essentially working the usual 8 hours a day for four days.
For 21%, an 8 hour and 45-minute work day would be acceptable (33 to 35 hours a week), while 19% said the shortened week should consist of 36 to 38 hours, or an average workday of 9 and a half hours. A minority of employees thought a four-day work week should be 39 to 40 hours making for an average of 10 hour workdays.
Surveyed employees were clear that few would accept any pay cut whatsoever in exchange for a four-day work week. Only 15% of participants said they would be willing to take a small pay cut of between 1-5% and 9% said they would be open to a slightly larger cut of between 6-10%.
According to UK workers, yes. Survey participants feel strongly that a four-day work week would represent many positive benefits in practice. Better work-life balance topped the chart with 82% of participants signaling what a shorter work week would mean to them. Improved well-being (55%) and a reduction in stress (48%) follow closely behind.
Employers can note that a solid 35% and 31%, respectively, believe they would experience increased job satisfaction and increased employer loyalty. When asked about potential negative side effects of a four-day work week, few participants felt it would bring on unrealistic expectations (11%), added stress (7%), or scheduling conflicts (6%).
Employees are looking for a little more down time and believe a four-day work week could be the answer. A whopping 71% of survey participants highlighted rest as well as leisure and hobbies as the top benefit they would associate with a shorter work week. Being able to attend personal appointments (64%) and conduct household chores (60%) were benefits strongly linked in UK minds with working only four days. A smaller number of employees also identified childcare and family caregiving as a benefit of a four-day work week schedule.
Methodology: The online survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Talent.com between August 19 and 23, 2022 had a total sample size of 1,352 adults. The figures have been weighted and are representative of British business size.