What is a four day week?

A four-day week is a working pattern where staff work four days instead of five. In the version campaigners promote, people keep full pay while working fewer hours, often 32. It is different from compressed hours, where the same total hours are squeezed into four longer days. There is no legal right to it in the UK.

The idea is often summed up as 100-80-100: 100% of the pay for 80% of the time, in return for 100% of the output. Supporters argue that shorter weeks reduce burnout and sickness, help firms recruit and keep staff, and can raise productivity per hour. Some workers already have four-day patterns through part-time work or compressed hours, often agreed one to one.

In 2022 a large UK pilot involved 61 companies. Most chose to continue with a shorter week afterwards, and many reported similar output with lower staff turnover. Some councils have run trials too. Results vary by sector, and it is harder in jobs that need cover around the clock, such as health care. Firms often redesign meetings and workloads to make the shorter week work.

UK law caps average working time at 48 hours a week, though workers can opt out. Employees can ask for flexible working from their first day, but employers can refuse for business reasons. Critics say a legal four-day week would raise costs, worsen staff shortages in public services and could not work in every job. Some public sector trials have faced pressure from ministers to end.