3,000 employees from 60 British companies are going to participate in a six-month trial of a four-day working week.

Aiming to help companies shorten their working hours without cutting salaries or sacrificing revenues, the pilot is being touted as the world's biggest so far.

It is being conducted by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, a programme manager at 4 Day Week Global, who has held similar trials in Spain, Iceland, the United States and Canada. Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to start theirs in August.&nbsp;

Pang has said that the trial will give firms "more time" to work through challenges, experiment with new practices and gather data.

He believes that smaller organisation will find it easier to adapt as they can make big changes more readily.

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Pressure Drop brewery, which is one of the companies participating in the trial, is based in Tottenham Hale.&nbsp;

It is hoping the experiment will not only improve their employees' productivity but also their well-being as well as reduce their carbon footprint.

According to its co-founder Sam Smith, "It will be difficult for a company like us which needs to be kept running all the time, but that's what we will experiment with in this trial."&nbsp;

The Royal Society of Biology, another participant in the trial, says it wants to give employees "more autonomy over their time and working patterns".

Both hope a shorter working week could help them retain employees, at a time when UK businesses are confronted with severe staff shortages, and job vacancies hitting a record 1.3 million.&nbsp;

Countries working fewer hours tend to have higher productivity according to Aidan Harper, author of "The Case for a Four Day Week".

"Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands work fewer hours than the UK, yet have higher levels of productivity," he told AFP.&nbsp;

"Within Europe, Greece works more hours than anyone, and yet have the lowest levels of productivity." 
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(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

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3,000 employees from 60 British companies are going to participate in a six-month trial of a four-day working week. Aiming to help companies shorten their working hours without cutting salaries or sacrificing revenues, the pilot is being touted as the world's biggest so far.

3,000 employees from 60 British companies are going to participate in a six-month trial of a four-day working week. Aiming to help companies shorten their working hours without cutting salaries or sacrificing revenues, the pilot is being touted as the world's biggest so far. It is being conducted by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, a programme manager at 4 Day Week Global, who has held similar trials in Spain, Iceland, the United States and Canada. Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to start theirs in August. Pang has said that the trial will give firms "more time" to work through challenges, experiment with new practices and gather data. He believes that smaller organisation will find it easier to adapt as they can make big changes more readily. Pressure Drop brewery, which is one of the companies participating in the trial, is based in Tottenham Hale. It is hoping the experiment will not only improve their employees' productivity but also their well-being as well as reduce their carbon footprint. According to its co-founder Sam Smith, "It will be difficult for a company like us which needs to be kept running all the time, but that's what we will experiment with in this trial." The Royal Society of Biology, another participant in the trial, says it wants to give employees "more autonomy over their time and working patterns". Both hope a shorter working week could help them retain employees, at a time when UK businesses are confronted with severe staff shortages, and job vacancies hitting a record 1.3 million. Countries working fewer hours tend to have higher productivity according to Aidan Harper, author of "The Case for a Four Day Week". "Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands work fewer hours than the UK, yet have higher levels of productivity," he told AFP. "Within Europe, Greece works more hours than anyone, and yet have the lowest levels of productivity." (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

3,000 employees in Britain taking part in world's biggest pilot for four-day workweek

Living from one weekend to the next has become the norm for most of us. We thank god it's Friday and dread a manic Monday. We cram all our hobbies, social events, chores, meal planning, workouts and getaways in a two-day window. The result? We feel exhausted and drained even before the week begins.

But what if your weekend was longer? What if you had more time to unwind, to spend with your family and plan all those getaways on your bucket list?

What if you were told that you could enjoy a three-day weekend? Deleting one working day and adding an extra holiday with no loss of pay, sounds like the perfect equation, doesn't it?

It's not a utopian concept anymore. It is becoming the norm in a lot of countries.&nbsp;

Iceland, Sweden, Japan, Scotland are all experimenting with a shorter work week -- four days to be exact. In Spain, big companies are agreeing to a 32-hour week without affecting employees' salaries.&nbsp;

In fact Iceland conducted the world's largest trial of a shorter working week from 2015 to 2019 and found that a majority of working professionals were happier and healthier.

Employers say it boosts productivity and employee well-being. In Japan where big companies take pride in driving an efficient workforce, there is a conscious effort to try and break away from a toxic, workaholic culture.

But is a shorter work week the best way to achieve that work-life balance that we all aspire for?

Many professionals feel that cramming the same amount of work in a shorter period of time may have an impact on their health in the long run. While a compressed work schedule has its benefits with claims of increased productivity, decreased overhead costs for companies and more "me time" for employees, there is a price to pay for this longer weekend.&nbsp;

Why, you ask? Consider another mathematical equation. You will either be working for five eight-hour shifts a week or four 10-hour shifts in a week. Longer hours every week, month on month, year on year, will lead to more stress and fatigue over a period of time.

Speak to working professionals and they will tell you that the scheduling challenges, deadlines and tasks keep adding up and one ends up taking the work -- and the added stress -- back home.

While on paper, you are working less, you are still cramming more work in a shorter period of time.

So, does that mean the four-day workweek is a failure? Not really. It is simply a metaphor for flexible working model which will be the future of workplaces. The pandemic has taught us that rigid working schedules are not in the interest of employers or employees.

Just like diets, nutrition plans, workout and clothes are tailored for us, working models need to be customised. A recent survey conducted by LinkedIn in India found that 7 in 10 Indian women are either quitting their jobs or considering the same due to a lack of flexible working models.

So simply deleting a day from our work week will not help us work more efficiently or enjoy more on our days off. &nbsp;

We need to look at the big picture and ask ourselves, is long-term fatigue worth a three-day weekend?

Living from one weekend to the next has become the norm for most of us. We thank god it's Friday and dread a manic Monday. We cram all our hobbies, social events, chores, meal planning, workouts and getaways in a two-day window.

Living from one weekend to the next has become the norm for most of us. We thank god it's Friday and dread a manic Monday. We cram all our hobbies, social events, chores, meal planning, workouts and getaways in a two-day window. The result? We feel exhausted and drained even before the week begins. But what if your weekend was longer? What if you had more time to unwind, to spend with your family and plan all those getaways on your bucket list? What if you were told that you could enjoy a three-day weekend? Deleting one working day and adding an extra holiday with no loss of pay, sounds like the perfect equation, doesn't it? It's not a utopian concept anymore. It is becoming the norm in a lot of countries. Iceland, Sweden, Japan, Scotland are all experimenting with a shorter work week -- four days to be exact. In Spain, big companies are agreeing to a 32-hour week without affecting employees' salaries. In fact Iceland conducted the world's largest trial of a shorter working week from 2015 to 2019 and found that a majority of working professionals were happier and healthier. Employers say it boosts productivity and employee well-being. In Japan where big companies take pride in driving an efficient workforce, there is a conscious effort to try and break away from a toxic, workaholic culture. But is a shorter work week the best way to achieve that work-life balance that we all aspire for? Many professionals feel that cramming the same amount of work in a shorter period of time may have an impact on their health in the long run. While a compressed work schedule has its benefits with claims of increased productivity, decreased overhead costs for companies and more "me time" for employees, there is a price to pay for this longer weekend. Why, you ask? Consider another mathematical equation. You will either be working for five eight-hour shifts a week or four 10-hour shifts in a week. Longer hours every week, month on month, year on year, will lead to more stress and fatigue over a period of time. Speak to working professionals and they will tell you that the scheduling challenges, deadlines and tasks keep adding up and one ends up taking the work -- and the added stress -- back home. While on paper, you are working less, you are still cramming more work in a shorter period of time. So, does that mean the four-day workweek is a failure? Not really. It is simply a metaphor for flexible working model which will be the future of workplaces. The pandemic has taught us that rigid working schedules are not in the interest of employers or employees. Just like diets, nutrition plans, workout and clothes are tailored for us, working models need to be customised. A recent survey conducted by LinkedIn in India found that 7 in 10 Indian women are either quitting their jobs or considering the same due to a lack of flexible working models. So simply deleting a day from our work week will not help us work more efficiently or enjoy more on our days off. We need to look at the big picture and ask ourselves, is long-term fatigue worth a three-day weekend?

A four-day work week: The future of workplaces?

Not happy with the performance of the employees, the Sikkim government has withdrawn the five-day working week system and declared that they will get holidays only on second and fourth Saturdays.

The new system will be effective from April 1, according to a notification.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-5-day-a-week-in-commercial-banks-rbi-212124">No 5-day a week in commercial banks: RBI</a>

After coming to power in May last year, chief minister Prem Singh Tamang had introduced the five-day working week for employees of the state government and public sector units. Earlier, it was a six-day week.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/if-given-a-4-day-work-week-indians-would-learn-a-new-skill-survey-204479">If given a 4-day work week, Indians would learn a new skill: Survey</a>

However, official sources said, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha government was not happy with the performance of its employees despite providing them holidays on Saturdays.

Modifying the May 28, 2019 notification, chief secretary S C Gupta on Monday said that with effect from April 1, 2020, only the second and fourth Saturdays will be holidays for the government and PSU offices in Sikkim.&nbsp;

Not happy with the performance of the employees, the Sikkim government has withdrawn the five-day working week system and declared that they will get holidays only on second and fourth Saturdays.

Not happy with the performance of the employees, the Sikkim government has withdrawn the five-day working week system and declared that they will get holidays only on second and fourth Saturdays. The new system will be effective from April 1, according to a notification. Also read: No 5-day a week in commercial banks: RBI After coming to power in May last year, chief minister Prem Singh Tamang had introduced the five-day working week for employees of the state government and public sector units. Earlier, it was a six-day week. Also read: If given a 4-day work week, Indians would learn a new skill: Survey However, official sources said, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha government was not happy with the performance of its employees despite providing them holidays on Saturdays. Modifying the May 28, 2019 notification, chief secretary S C Gupta on Monday said that with effect from April 1, 2020, only the second and fourth Saturdays will be holidays for the government and PSU offices in Sikkim.

Sikkim withdraws five-day working week system for government employees