200 UK Companies Sign Up for 4-Day Work Week, Supporting 3 Days Off
London:In a groundbreaking move, 200 companies in the UK have signed up to implement a permanent 4-day workweek, offering employees three days off every week with no reduction in pay. According to a report by an international news agency, this initiative is backed by the 4 Day Week Foundation, which has gained significant traction among businesses across various sectors.
The participating companies, which collectively employ more than 5,000 people, span industries such as charity work, marketing, technology, and consultancy. Notable sectors involved include 30 companies from marketing, advertising, and public relations, 29 charity and non-governmental organizations, 24 tech, internet, and software companies, and 22 consultancy and management firms.
The Foundation’s campaign director, Joe Ryle, stated that the traditional 9-to-5, five-day workweek, established over a century ago, is no longer suited to modern times. He emphasized that a change has long been needed, with proponents of the 4-day workweek arguing that the five-day schedule is a relic of the old economic era.
This move follows in the footsteps of Belgium, which became the first European country to legislate for a 4-day workweek in 2022. Other countries where the 4-day workweek is either legislated or practiced to some extent include Australia, Austria, the United States, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Lithuania, Japan, and the UAE.
