This is How Win A 4 Day Week This August 

After a gruelling begin to the enterprise calendar, UK workers are already dreaming of a restful summer season this 12 months – a want that may very well be granted by shifting to a 4 day workweek.

Urge for food for the 4 day week, the place employees work someday much less for a similar pay, has by no means been greater. Startups’ analysis exhibits that multiple in ten companies plan to undertake the coverage this 12 months; and August may very well be the perfect month to kickstart their ambitions.

As a brand new marketing campaign, ‘4ugust’, encourages bosses to check out the worker profit for the whole month this summer season, we clarify how UK staff can acquire buy-in from their employers.

What’s 4ugust?

4ugust is an annual initiative that has been launched by the 4 day week marketing campaign group, 4 Day Week Marketing campaign and office suppose tank, Autonomy. 2024 marks the primary 12 months the marketing campaign will probably be run.

Firms that select to participate within the initiative can provide their employees a four-day week, whereas holding salaries the identical, for the entire month of August. Alongside the financial institution vacation within the last week, this quantities to simply 4 further days off: a mini trial.

The partnership made the announcement following optimistic outcomes from a earlier six-month pilot (overseen by Autonomy) within the UK in 2022. 

18 months on, 54 of the 61 firms that took half within the landmark trial have maintained the four-day week coverage for groups.

For organisations which have heard about the advantages of a 4 day week, however really feel not sure in regards to the affect of dropping an entire workday, August supplies the perfect setting to check it out. 

Workplaces are usually much less productive throughout the month as working dad and mom take time without work throughout the college holidays. 

Main employers like PwC and ASOS – and even the UK authorities – shut workplaces or supply lowered summer season working hours in August, that means disruption may be saved to a minimal.

get your boss on board

Final 12 months, Startups performed an intensive survey into worker attitudes to the 4 day week, following the outcomes of the Autonomy pilot.

The outcomes have been conclusive: UK staff are strongly in favour of a 4 day week and enthusiastic about the advantages it might convey to work-life steadiness and lowering stress.

Nevertheless, confidence in employer implementation was the largest barrier to the coverage being efficiently rolled out throughout the UK workforces. 78% of workers desire a four-day week, however solely 30% are optimistic their employer might efficiently implement it.

Seemingly out of desperation, greater than half of respondents instructed us they might change jobs to have the ability to work a 4 day week. Employees should not soar ship but, nevertheless. 2024 has a couple of methods up its sleeve to win over sceptical bosses.

Versatile Working invoice

One benefit that 4 day week proponents have been given this 12 months is the introduction of the federal government’s Versatile Working invoice, which is able to turn into laws in April.

Below the brand new laws, workers have been given better powers to request versatile working phrases – together with a 4 day week – from day considered one of their employment.

Submitting a request for a 4 day week this 12 months is the right time to ignite a dialog about 4ugust with key determination makers akin to CEOs or HR heads.

Throughout the course of, you have to to submit a proper enchantment in writing, clearly stating that you’re making a statutory versatile working request. It’s a good suggestion to incorporate supporting documentation that may assist your case, akin to:

trial a 4 day week this summer season

Organisations which might be already offered on the 4 day week can begin making ready now for August to enhance their possibilities of the coverage being rolled out efficiently.

For instance, employers must agree modifications to working hours and patterns with employees and write these into present contracts whether or not on a short lived foundation or as everlasting modifications. 

Buyer heads may additionally must plan for modifications to their contact hours; whether or not which means utilizing AI expertise would possibly plug the gaps or closing assist desks for someday every week.

The nice factor is {that a} check interval is simply that: a check. No matter your findings are from the trial you’ll be able to relaxation assured the coverage will finish in simply 4 weeks, so it’s the perfect probability to analyze the short-term affect with out having to fret about long-term implications.

Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Marketing campaign, mentioned: “4ugust is an thrilling alternative for organisations to experiment with a four-day week in a mini trial.

“Many firms already function with summer season working hours so this is only one small step additional. We’re assured that many firms will sign-up to participate after which get to see the advantages of a four-day week for themselves.”