World’s Largest Trial of 4-Day Week on 100% Pay Starts in UK Today

Thousands of UK workers are starting a four-day work week from Monday with no cut to their pay in the largest trial of its kind. It is like 100% pay for 80% of the working hours.

This program is being run by not-for-profit 4 Day Week Global, Autonomy, a think tank, and the 4 Day Week UK Campaign in partnership with researchers from Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.

This trial, which will last for six months is involving 3,300 workers from 70 companies, ranging from providers of financial services to a fast-food restaurant. During the 6-month program, workers will be receiving 100% of their pay for working only 80% of their usual working week and in exchange will be promising to maintain 100% of their productivity.

Sienna O'Rourke, brand manager at 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 great deal about work and how people organize their lives," she said. "We're doing this to improve the lives of our staff and be part of a progressive change in the world,” she added.