The world’s largest four-day workweek pilot begins

Iceland tests shorter working hours 1:15 London (CNN Business) — Thousands of UK workers began working four days a week from Monday, with no pay cut, in the biggest test of its kind. . The six-month pilot program involves 3,300 workers from 70 companies, from financial service providers to a fish and chip restaurant. During the program, workers receive 100% of their salary for working only 80% of their usual week, in exchange for committing to maintain 100% of their productivity. The program is run by the non-profit organization 4 Day Week Global, the think tank Autonomy and the 4 Day Week UK campaign, in collaboration with researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Boston College. Sienna O’Rourke, brand director for Pressure Drop Brewing, an independent brewery in London, told CNN Business that the company’s biggest goal was to improve the mental health and well-being of its employees. “The pandemic has made us think a lot about work and the way people organize their lives,” she said. “We are doing this to improve the lives of our staff and to be part of a progressive change in the world.” Since the company manufactures and ships products, workers have less flexibility about when and where to work, O’Rourke said. But any difficulties in managing holidays and sick leave will be tackled as a team. US companies continue to hire despite high costs 1:03 Until now, Iceland had carried out the largest pilot test of a shorter workweek between 2015 and 2019, with 2,500 public sector workers involved in two large essays. Those trials found no corresponding drop in productivity among participants, and a dramatic increase in employee well-being. In recent years, calls for shorter working weeks have gained strength in several countries. As millions of employees switched to remote work during the pandemic, reducing commuting time and costs, calls for greater flexibility have only grown. The government-backed 4 Days Week Campaign will take place in Spain and Scotland later this year. Joe O’Connor, CEO of 4 Day Week Global, said workers have shown they can work “shorter and smarter.” “As we emerge from the pandemic, more and more companies are recognizing that the new competitive frontier is quality of life, and that low-hour, performance-focused work is the vehicle that will give them a competitive advantage,” he said in the statement. The researchers will measure the impact of the new work model on productivity levels, gender equality, the environment and the well-being of workers.