A new pilot scheme to assess how a four-day week could work in practice has been launched by 4 Day Week Global, in partnership with the think tank Autonomy. During the pilot, in which roughly 30 organisations are taking part, staff will be asked to maintain 100% productivity, in only 80% of the time, for the same pay as a five-day working week.

The scheme is set to launch in the UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and researchers at Oxford University, Cambridge University and Boston will monitor the results. Results will be collected from each company to analyse the impact on productivity, the wellbeing of workers, and the impact on the environment and gender equality. Allowing people flexibility over the hours they work, and where they work, is increasingly popular. By working flexibly, employees are better able to manage their caring responsibilities, or achieve a better work–life balance.

Joe O’Connor, pilot Programme Manager for 4 Day Week Global, said:

"More and more businesses are moving to productivity-focused strategies to enable them to reduce worker hours without reducing pay. We are excited by the growing momentum and interest in our pilot program and in the four-day week more broadly. The four-day week challenges the current model of work and helps companies move away from simply measuring how long people are 'at work', to a sharper focus on the output being produced. 2022 will be the year that heralds in this bold new future of work."

UK firms taking part are reported to include tech firm Canon, software firms and a medical not-for-profit, ranging in size from 20 staff to 140 plus.