Four-Day Work Week Movement Takes Hold With Small Businesses In U.K.

The four-day work week is picking up momentum in the U.K., where some believe that the shortened workweek is positioned to entirely change the nation’s work culture.  

According to a survey conducted by Startups.co.uk, 12% of U.K. small businesses are considering adopting a four-day work week in 2024. This change is reported to be driven by a desire to improve work-life balance and address issues like employee burnout and stress.  

The survey, which included a representative sample of 546 small businesses, suggests that there is a slow, yet growing acceptance of the new work schedule despite previous concerns over productivity and impacts on pay.  

The move towards a four-day work week by small businesses is part of a larger trend in the global workforce towards flexible work arrangements, with 66% of companies in the study estimated to embrace flexible work models like hybrid or remote work in 2024.  

The concept of the four-day week in the U.K. gained popularity following a successful international trial last year. Companies that have adopted this work schedule cite improved employee wellbeing as a key reason. The shorter workweek is believed to reduce work-related stress and boost employee morale — potentially leading to increases in productivity.  

However, transitioning to a four-day week presents challenges and the majority is obviously still not on board with the concept. While companies like Lamborghini made headlines last year by announcing their adoption of the four-day work week, government employers seem to be caught in the middle of the debate. In fact, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in the U.K. has threatened funding cuts to local U.K. governments that trial the shorter week. The resistance stems from concerns over the value for taxpayer money. 

While the growth in adoption of shorter workweeks is seemingly increasing at a slow rate, it’s not without notice. As shorter work weeks are trialed and adopted in the U.K. and within other countries, it could lead to a more satisfied and efficient workforce — adding another high impact paradigm that would transform the traditional workweek.  

Small businesses that are interested in the shortened workweek might opt for pilot programs or alternatives within shorter week models — like spreading 40 hours across fewer days. This kind of flexibility would allow for a more custom approach to the four-day week, which better suits different business needs.