The workers getting 100% pay for 80% of the hours

Thousands of UK workers will start a four-day trial period from today.

About 70 companies will take part in what is probably the world’s largest pilot project on the subject of work patterns over the next six months.

The experiment was organized by a group that wants a shorter work week but no wage cuts.

During the trial, employees are paid 100% for 80% of the hours they would normally work, with the goal of being more productive.

Academics from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and experts from Boston College in the US, will lead the experiment in partnership with think tank Autonomy.

Companies are participating, from office-based software developers and recruitment firms to charities and a local fish and chip shop.

Sam Smith, whose North London brewing company Pressure Drop, said it felt “like a good time” for the firm to try different working practices.

“The pandemic has made us think a lot about work and how people organize their lives,” he added. “We do this to improve the lives of our employees and to be part of an ongoing change in the world that will improve people’s mental health and well-being.”

Mr. Smith’s challenge during the pilot program is fairly simple. His team of nine has to produce and pack the same amount of beer as now, but in four days instead of five.

“I think it’s about how you use your time,” said Mr. Smith. “So when I say being productive, I don’t mean that you’ll be faster at the task you’re doing, but that you might use that natural downtime to better prepare for the next day.”

Clare Doherty, who runs the firm’s office, said the process was “amazing” and part of a “natural evolution of the way we work”.

She explained that working with the company for more than four years and knowing that she can get her job done has made her confident that she can do her job less efficiently with a tag.

“It’ll take those extra few minutes of web-scrolling out of your day because you just need to be a little more focused to get what you need to get done in the time you have,” she said.

Meanwhile, Craig Carmichael, who works at the shop, believes an extra day off will motivate him to work harder.

“If I know I have stuff to do in four days to enjoy that extra day, I think that will be a good incentive,” he told the BBC.

The experiment, involving around 3,000 British workers, is part of a global initiative and is running in parallel with similar smaller trials in Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

“The UK process is historic,” said Juliet Schor, the lead researcher on the Global 4-Day-Week Project and an economist and sociologist at Boston College.

“The basis of this movement is that there is activity in many workplaces, especially office jobs, that are low-productivity and that you can scale back without hurting business.”

She said the problem with the five-day work week is that work can easily be expanded to fit the time available.

“There’s no point in sticking to a rigid, centuries-old, time-based system,” added Ms. Schor.

“You can be 100% productive in many workplaces 80% of the time, and companies that are adopting this around the world have proven that.”

However, the researcher acknowledged that the idea may not suit everyone and every profession, e.g. B. in healthcare and in the classroom, where staff may already be overworked and stressed.

But even if workers are just 10% more productive, profitability can still increase, she argued, if it translates to lower sickness rates, fewer attrition rates, and easier recruitment.

Girling Jones, a small Exeter construction recruitment firm, switched to a four-day work week in January but has also signed up for the process

Productivity has increased and so have profits, said boss and company founder Simon Girling.

“All of our inputs – calls, meetings, interviews – are done… simple, everyone is doing more in less time,” he added.

Employees are happier too – Ellen Andreassen said she uses her day off to relax.

“I’m definitely more motivated. What I noticed is the sleep. I sleep a lot better and get up a lot easier.”

Her colleague Josh Cockerill said spending more time with his daughter helps him save money on kindergarten fees.

“You know you have a day off in the middle of the week, that gives you a greater incentive to work harder towards that day off,” he said.

With daily routines upended by the Covid pandemic, the company was ready to try new work patterns.

“About three years ago I was fortunate enough to start a four-day work week and it changed my life,” Mr Girling said.

“When we came back from the pandemic we did a lot of research on it and I couldn’t see any downside.

“I think as part of this four day pilot there will be some really detailed stats on that. I’m not sure if it would work in all industries or companies, but it’s a really good opportunity for many companies to change how they operate and maybe improve.”