4-Day Workweek Trial Set To Begin In The UK With 100-80-100 Model

The 4-day workweek system, which has been the talk of the town globally, is gradually gaining acceptance worldwide.

The recent past few years have been a witness to some companies adopting this model on a trial basis, which showed a rise in productivity.

Back in November 2019, Microsoft Japan had stated that the four-day workweek boosted workers¡¯ productivity by 40%, and led to lower electricity bills as well for the company. Even in the past few weeks of 2022, companies like Panasonic and Bolt too, have expressed their plans to adopt a four-day workweek.

Last month, UAE had become the first country to transition to a 4.5 day work week from January 1st, 2022.

And now it's the United Kingdom¡¯s turn. The UK is reportedly set to launch the four-day work week trial soon, which involves the 100-80-100 model.

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The 100-80-100 Model

Participating companies and organizations of the UK will trial a four-day week with no loss in pay for employees based on the principle of the 100:80:100 model.

This implies, 100% of the pay for 80% of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintain at least 100% productivity.

Who Is Organizing The 4 Day Work Week Trial?

The trial is being organized by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with leading think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week UK Campaign and researchers at Cambridge University, Oxford University and Boston College.

And this initiative is a global one, as the UK pilot will run in parallel with similar programmes this year in several countries like the USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Even the governments of Scotland and Spain have reportedly launched trials of the four-day week.

Also Read: This Company Is Allowing All Its Employees To Work From Abroad For 6 Weeks Every Year

What Will The Research Include?

The organization's researchers will work with each participating organization to measure the impact on productivity in the business as well as the wellbeing of its workers, besides also taking into consideration the impact on the environment and gender equality.

The organizers claim that various studies have already shown that moving to a 4-day week boosts productivity and workers¡¯ wellbeing, with Microsoft Japan being an example of the same.

Previously in November 2021, Atom Bank became the largest UK four-day week employer, with all of its 430 staff moving to a four-day, 34-hour working week, with no reduction in pay.

The Organizer's Statement

4-Day Week Global¡¯s Pilot program manager Joe O¡¯Connor had said ¡°More and more businesses are moving to productivity-focused strategies to enable them to reduce worker hours without reducing pay.¡±

He also stated that ¡°reduced working time¡± was the remedy for this post-pandemic ¡°great global resignation wave¡±.

The Trial

In the UK, more than 30 companies are expected to take part in a six-month trial led by 4 Day Week Global, think tank Autonomy, and researchers at Oxford University, Boston College, and Cambridge University. The 4 day work week pilot scheme will run from June 2022 to December 2022.

Also Read: The Centre May Soon Allow Us To Have A Four-Day Work Week

What About India?

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As far as India is concerned, the four-day workweek issue may soon be taken up under new labour codes in the upcoming financial year 2022-23. Although the road ahead is not clear yet,

But this model may bring the much-needed relief through better work-life balance, besides improving employees' productivity and even helping organizations reduce the high attrition rates which have become a common sight during the pandemic.

Also Read: Indian Tech Giant HCL Aims To Solve High Attrition Problem With 'Hire To Retire' Platform

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